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Nellis Air Force Base hosts one of the nation’s largest solar photovoltaic systems. The state is considering switching to solar power for a significant number of its buildings and facilities.
Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 | 2 a.m.
Gov. Jim Gibbons
Sun coverage
Sun archives
- Large solar energy plant to be built near Boulder City (12-14-2010)
- New solar test zone brightens the future of Las Vegas (7-9-2010)
- Solar research facility planned for Nevada Test Site (7-8-2010)
- State reveals plan to step up solar energy development (6-4-10)
- Boulder City Council identifies site for another solar power plant (10-17-2009)
- Negotiations under way for more solar energy in Eldorado Valley (8-16-2009)
- Public meeting held on proposed Primm solar plant (8-13-2009)
- BLM seeks comment on proposed solar plants near Primm (8-10-2009)
- Federal energy plan approved, but criticism of delays lingers (7-26-2009)
- A composite bill friendly to solar expected today (4-29-2009)
- Training for green jobs in plans for stimulus money (3-22-2009)
- Nevada lagging in the race to a green future (2-8-2009)
The state is considering switching to solar power for a significant number of its buildings and facilities, even though critics question whether the change would save taxpayers money.
A politically connected Sparks company would have the first right to develop solar projects on 53 government properties and sell the generated energy back to the state, under the proposal Nevada officials are evaluating.
The four-year deal with GA-SNC Solar could spur $300 million in private investment, according to the state energy office. GA-SNC Solar is a partnership between international solar company Gestamp Solar and Sierra Nevada Corp., a Northern Nevada defense contractor that has been a heavy contributor to elected officials, including Gov. Jim Gibbons.
The company’s competitors and elected officials have expressed concerns about the deal. A competing bidder has appealed a state committee’s recommendation that GA-SNC Solar’s proposal receive the highest score among eight proposals. Another competitor said the company’s price estimates are significantly higher than electricity available from NV Energy.
A decision on the agreement between the state and GA-SNC Solar was delayed this week by the Board of Examiners, which is made up of the governor, attorney general and secretary of state. Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto requested a decision be postponed until her consumer advocate can evaluate the costs.
Commercial Solar Services, a competing company in Reno, argued in a letter to the state that the price of energy under GA-SNC Solar’s contract, at 17 cents per kilowatt hour, would be 54 percent higher than what the state pays NV Energy.
To bolster its argument, Commercial Solar cites a contract that GA-SNC Solar-partner Sierra Nevada secured for a 2.6-megawatt solar project at a Nevada Army National Guard facility. According Commercial Solar Services’ letter, the National Guard is paying 18 cents per kilowatt-hour from that project, compared with the 11 cents per kilowatt-hour it paid before the installation.
Energy Director Jim Groth, who served in the Guard before Gibbons appointed him the state’s energy director, said Commercial Solar’s numbers are incorrect and that the state will save money in the long run under GA-SNC Solar’s contract.
“The truthful crux of the matter is that whiners in Nevada spew baseless, unfounded data and the press ... gives it merit,” Groth said in an e-mail to the Sun.
Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, incoming chairwoman of the Ways and Means Committee, said she wants to make sure “all contracts are open and fair.”
“We better make sure any contract or any new program we’re implementing is saving the state money, certainly not costing the state money,” she said.
GA-SNC Solar would have the right of first refusal to convert to solar power a variety of state buildings in Northern and Southern Nevada, including in parks, Department of Motor Vehicles offices, and higher education and state office buildings.
Ties between Sierra Nevada and Gibbons and his then-wife, Dawn, made headlines early in his term when it was revealed Sierra Nevada had paid $35,000 in consulting fees to the former first lady while Gibbons was in Congress helping the company secure defense contracts.
A representative of Sierra Nevada said the proposed contract with the state went through a competitive bidding process evaluated by an independent panel of more than 10 representatives from Las Vegas and state agencies. Michelle Erlach, Sierra Nevada corporate director of renewable energy, said the state should consider approving the agreement in a special meeting this month to keep momentum on the project going.
“We’re pushing it through because we’re a business, we’re all about making the economy run and move forward,” Erlach said. “The timing is not driven by politics. Rather it’s driven by financial, logistic and employment concerns to further the state’s policy on solar.”
The company plans on getting informal approval from Gov.-elect Brian Sandoval, who takes office Jan. 3. “Even though a formal approval is not required, we are going to get a preliminary buy-in on the concept ... from the next administration,” Erlach said.
Groth, who was not reappointed as energy director by Sandoval, said Gibbons had little involvement with the selection of the Sierra Nevada partnership.
The agreement would help bring renewable energy to the state, he added. Each agency would be able to negotiate an agreement to buy back the power from the company, he said. Those contracts would have to be approved by an executive branch board and a legislative panel.
He dismissed concerns about the cost, saying agency directors are fighting for every dollar right now, and wouldn’t agree to energy contracts that cost more money.
“A director is sure as hell not going to engage in a decision that will cost taxpayers more money right now,” Groth said.
Cortez Masto has asked her office’s consumer advocate, Eric Witkoski, to establish whether power purchase agreements save the state money. That review was to be completed by Friday.
Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Examiners, which approves contracts, was the last regularly scheduled meeting for Gibbons, who lost the June primary to Sandoval. Gibbons could, however, call an emergency meeting of the board.
Did they own the horse ranch where Gibbons fell off the horse?
I thought the dittoheads did not like solar power? I guess if you can get a buck off it, it is OK.
TeaHeads hate the idea of solar or wind parks in Nevada, but nuclear waste is fine, go figure..
It does save money.
In year 238,328,323 it is calculated that it will save one penny over the life of the contract. But one thing must happen. The earth has to crash into the sun to get the one cent saving.
Chunky says:
If we can afford it now... the big "IF" we should go for it!
Sunlight is about the only thing we have in abundance and free here in the state!
That's what Chunky thinks!
First, there is the obvious angle of a possible corrupt bargain with an insider.
Perhaps more important is the question: Should we do this deal or something like it with anyone in the near future? Residential customers in Nevada paid an average of about 12 cents per kilowatt-hour for their electricity in August of this year. Because of the abundance of natural gas and coal, the US Energy Department forecast for electricity rates is that they will not go up very much in the next 10 years.
Solar panels are very expensive to build and place -- and they are not terribly efficient. They will become more efficient and cost less in the future. But right now, the current solar panels -- as apparently proposed for this project -- will produce electricity at somewhere between 25 and 30 cents per kilowatt-hour. That is 2 to 3 times of conventionally-generated electricity.
Solar would seem not to be economic now for areas that are on the grid. But as a political favor to a friend it could be lucrative for anyone who does not have to subsidize it -- every one of us who uses electricity will being paying that subsidy.
What I did not hear from Michelle Erlach is the projected cost, and projected savings to the residents of Nevada? If we are paying more for solar energy in comparision to the current rate with NV Energy, than something is wrong and most be corrected.
Why would the State pay more for solar energy? This be a transparent process? Right?
Let see how this works! NV Energy installs solar panels which the cost of the generation is 4 time the cost of NG or clean coal Generation over the life time of the unit. Or ten time Nuclear plants or hydro! Then NV Energy get a subsidy (Tax Credit for those of you in Rio Linda) from the tax payers that goes direct to their bottom line! They raise NV rate payers energy rates to cover the inefficiency and cost of the solar panels! Looks like a Win/Win for NV Energy and screw you for the rate payers!
Markey - the only thing the French do that I like is store Nuc-U-lar waste correctly (going on 50 years similar to the proposal for Yucca) and public works bidding! It is a shame that we have Kool-Aid drinkers like you stopping what could be a win/win for the Americans who want energy Independence!
Why is each agency Director negotiating energy contracts? Clearly there has to be some economies of scale by negotiating a comprehensive plan on behalf of the state. Governor elect Sandoval has a real oppurtunity to get this right.
The car, the movie, the TV and the airplane were impractical and expensive when they first came out.
It is time to take away Gibbon's free medical care.
We know that scientific calculations show the paltry power generated by the sun on the earth that is 93 million miles away from he earth: ~1.37 Kilowatts per square meter. At best the Solar Array system will generate one tenth of that after inefficiency is considered.
That aside, we always need to consider the political aspect of Solar Power:
Senator Harry Reid is rubbing his hands with glee as he is gouging his taxpaying constituents for their ignorance of the scientific aspects of solar power.
Kicking and screaming we will bring you to the 21th century. We are falling behind the rest of the world when it comes to technology. Look at the Chinese; it seems that they will lead the technology that we created. We have to move forward not backward.
If the state currently pays 11 cents per KW hour for electricity how is paying 17 or 18 cents per KW hour saving money?
Maybe that is to simple?
Solar power does not, and will never work. Even if the cost of generating solar power drops below conventional costs, you still need the grid, coal fired plants, and other sources for when it is nighttime or when it is a cloudy day.
This is just wishful thinking.
@thekash
Ever hear of storage batteries ?
This is unbelievable, if anyplace should have solar power, it is Nevada. There should be panels on every roof and all the free space in the state. Yes, the cost of the panels is significant and is an initial outlay, but after that, its FREE. We have more sunlight here than anywhere else. The power produced I'm pretty sure is DC power which can be stored, it's converted to AC power for transmission and use. How can it cost more to produce solar power than it is to burn oil or natural gas?
And if we don't go solar, what about wind power?
Every home owner should be able to put some solar panels on their roof, generate some power into the electric grid which would then turn their electric meter backwards for a small credit on their bill from NV Evergy each month - but it is "not allowed". Powers that be (Reid, politicians, NV Evergy and power producers) talk a good game about converting to solar energy but it is all lip service. No one really wants to disrupt the moeny flow as is - the environment be damned.
FernlyeDem....
Ever hear of how your little theory of storage batteries would cost ?
A) Will would drive down the little amount of energy that solar panels produce during the days and hours on clear days
B) The cost of such of a storage battery system would probably at least double the 18 cents figure
C) There would days (like in the winter) where clound cover would greatly limit the amount of energy being produce....one would still need to have other energy systems like coal, natural gas to kick in....and therefore we would spending twice for energy
This makes absolutely no sense, the govenment is paying more for energ to GA SNC Solar than it did before getting the solar panels. I believe GA SNC Solar is taking the tax payers for a ride. Not only are the charging the goverment agency more per kilowatt, but its plans on making more on the excess power. It sounds like a politician has been paid by GA SNC Solar, and it does need to be investigated. When the government makes the switch to solar it should save the tax payers, not cost them.
Its honestly time anyone with half a brain left this state. There is nothing positive happening for the people and its obvious they are a back seat to the green agenda, casinos, and mining.
The typical Vegas home has a 15,000 watt air conditioner... If you want to be green then shut down Vegas because its the biggest waste of water in the entire world and the least green place on earth.
This place is going to wind up with higher electricity rates than California...
What an epic disaster of a city. If you want to save power you need only look towards the Casinos... But like i said the citizens take the back seat so why live in this state? You shouldn't.
serfattack is rising up righteously accurate.
You can see casinos lighting the sky for a mighty long ways on a dark night in the desert. splendid monuments to waste.
This solar deal smells already of corruption and more waste of our resources and green paint to cash in on the naivete and ignorance shrouding this place.
And it's drenched in free daily delivery of ample amounts of energy to sustain a reasonable lifestyle here off the grid at competitive prices.
Maybe you have to go Alaska or Copenhagen for a winter to appreciate what 300 days a year of beam radiation from that golden orb can do for a soul.
And the serf is so right on about the tragedy, the story of what happens to paradise when corruption and greed drive the ship.
So how's the 'minor' problem of water to cool it going to be solved? The Feds just gave 600,000 acre-feet of water to native Americans which is going to make Lake Mead look like Lake Mojave Desert when they start pumping out of the alreay dry Colorado.
If the power is going to Vegas, let 'em also supply the water.
Anyone, who does not know that the entire world could be solar powered is ignorant, uneducated and misinformed.
Even daily power usage is well over 50% wasted power...some by misuse, some by intentionally engineered design to sell excess power by the power producers.
Not one car, truck or train should have been burning fossil fuel for the past 50+ years.
Most airplanes should not have even been built. Air travel may been fun and faster...but what's the hurry if the flight isn't delivering live organs for a transplant?
The world leaders are delusional morons (moron = adult with 11 year-old mentality maximum), both on the podium with their big, stupid smiles and hiding behind the curtains, pulling strings.
Several years as a nuclear power plant operator and health physics tech taught me just how stupid...
What you believe doesn't matter and what you don't know allows morons (see above definition) to run your lives and destroy your children's futures.
Is ANYONE getting a feel for where this is all going?
If the methane release from the Siberian Glacier that is melting, is even one fifth of what is projected...I am typing messages to future pieces of charcoal.
Global warming concerns could actually be global roasting.
But Gore, Chapman & I could be wrong. Merry Christmas!
At first, I liked all solar. Now, I don't want to see millions of acres paved over for the inefficient solar trough or linear fresnel.
Solution:
Mass automation of the solar dish. It is simply post mounted and thus would be in almost perfect harmony with the deserts. We also need automated PV and LiFePO4 battery factories to be developed in order to properly combat oil depletion and GW.
This is FAR more important than subsidizing the current generation of expensive panels that are also improperly sited under trees and cloudy locations.
This to those that say "solar will never amount to anything"...
It has been growing by some 30-35% since the 70's. It still only produces .02% total power, but at this rate, WILL POWER EVERYTHING IN LESS THAN 40 YEARS!
Obviously, we need automated factories to keep it going :)
"The state CURRENTLY pays 11 cents..." I lived here when we were paying the one of the lowest cost per kilowatt hour in the country, not near the highest.
Does solar power work? Of course it does. It takes the load off the conventional sources of power at the time when it's needed most, during the day. What a coincidence, that's when the sun is out. We don't have to rely solely on solar power for it to prove it's worth. Or haven't any of the anti-solar loons been here long enough to remember the rolling brown-outs during the summers? Oh wait... that's also when the sun is at it's brightest.
The question in the article isn't the pros and cons of solar energy, it's a question of Gibbons getting kickbacks from a company he has close ties to.
I say we should open the bid to other solar contractors on an equal basis.
Hmmm... will they demand a refund from the Gov?
If we could get all the back scratching out of the pathway towards sustainable green energy PRODUCTION in Nevada, that would be a great start. There are enough barriers, however, to deter even the most enthusiastic of people, be it regular private citizen, or investors with means. Nevada Senator Reid and Congresswomen Berkely and Titus, have laid the path, groundwork, funding, and needed attention of Nevada entering the modern age on sustainable green energy. They have made sure that all Nevadans are aware of their efforts. Is it perfect? No. But it is a fabulous start!
This state has had the reputation of leisure gaming with Las Vegas and Reno, and the boom and busts of mining, and Federal Government/military projects with the Nevada Test Site, Nellis & Creech AF Bases, Yucca Mountain High Level Waste Repository, Parks & Recreation wilderness areas, and the wild mustangs. Things had been carelessly thrown up to make fast money, also torn down or imploded to do the same. Very little thought and planning took place in the past. Why? "Nevada is a damn desert!" old timers would cry, over and over. Now, we enter a new century, we need to take the time and think about the future, one that addresses our sustainability.
For the last 20 years, Nevada has experienced growth that was largely irresponsibly guided. Both housing and commercial projects were virtually "rubber stamped" which included favors, bribes, and whatever else is done on the sly. Presently, we are reaping the results. Water is scarce, and now the people in the state are fighting over its availability. Empty buildings and homes litter the landscape, as developers thought it best to overdevelop and take their money and run. The majority of them did just that or have since went broke/money all spent. Few, if any, built green energy production features into their magnificant structures. No one was thinking and no one made them. Are we going to continue that mindless trend Nevada is so very famous for?
Now is the time to remove any and all barriers, including costs or permitting to homeowners, to make sustainable green energy PRODUCTION a priority! Let's make Nevada energy smart. That would be a great start, since we continue to be the lowest educated in the Union (USA). So far, green energy appears to be something that only the big cats are able to succeed at. Everyday people have NOT been successfully included in Nevada's efforts toward making this state green energy sustainable! That needs to change! The little guy cannot compete in his/her ability to get favors, line political pockets, do the mutual back scratching that truly takes place. Make both solar & wind energy easier for the little guy to have, and watch REAL positive change in Nevada for now & its future!