solar

My first choice for this month's topic had to do with "April Fools" jokes. You know? Harry Reid speaking to the Nevada Legislature on April 1. My warped mind went crazy with all the things I could say about that. Then Harry announced his retirement.

If he had announced it on April 1, this month's column probably would have been devoted to having as much fun with that as possible. Oh well, now Harry is "old news" so time to go to the other topic that has been bouncing around the cobwebs of my brain.

While it starts at 3:45 p.m. today, Saturday, March 21, will be the first full day of spring in Western Nevada. But springtime in Western Nevada is definitely in the eyes of the beholder. As someone who was born and raised in Carson City, Spring weather can be very nice or very not-so-nice.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners Thursday denied a special use permit to build a proposed solar energy project in the Carson Valley.
Commissioners voted 4-1 to deny the appeal.

If you are a farmer or rancher with irrigation costs that are making you wince, it might be time to consider developing a more energy-efficient system.
Dianne and Lee Hutchens of Central Nevada took the plunge into solar energy using USDA Rural Development's Rural Energy for America grant, and are glad they did. This winter, they have been earning credits from NV Energy; in April they will begin using the credits to power two circle pivots on 160 acres of irrigated pasture.

Small rural businesses, ranchers and farmers can learn how to access grants and loans to finance renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements at a workshop Feb. 6 in Carson City.

With the help of the Western Nevada Astronomical Society and the Jack C. Davis Observatory at Western Nevada College in Carson City, students and residents interested in astronomy can explore new worlds as part of a five-year citizen science astronomy research project to study the outer solar system.

Two planetary scientists, Marc Buie and John Keller, announced Tuesday the expansion of RECON — the Research and Education Collaborative Occultation Network — to 60 communities across the entire western United States.

NV Energy residential customers who are considering investing in rooftop solar are invited to attend one of two “Solar for Homeowners” workshops in Reno presented by NV Energy.

Representatives of NV Energy’s SolarGenerations program will explain the fundamentals of solar electricity and share valuable consumer awareness tips and resources to help customers make an informed decision when choosing solar.

Topics will include:
— Calculating your home’s energy use.
— Properly sizing a solar system.
— Selecting a solar contractor.
— Understanding different ownership models.

Four new heating, ventilating and air conditioning, furnaces and four programmable thermostats with sensors were installed at a reduced cost at Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern Nevada, a Reno non-profit that serves as a “home-away-from-home” for families with children in area hospitals.

Sierra Air, Inc., Carrier Corporation and Sigler Wholesale Distributors coordinated the procurement, transportation and installation of the energy-efficient components, providing approximately $23,209 of cost savings in equipment, material and labor.

Sierra Nevada Corporation announced Wednesday the successful completion of the Transport Telemedicine System Proof of Military Utility Advanced Development Assessment for the U.S. Army Medical Material Agency. TTS is a new capability that captures and communicates patient care and condition information beginning at the Point of Injury and continuing until arrival at a medical facility.

Sierra Nevada Corporation based in Sparks, Nev., announced Wednesday the debut of Sierra Completions, its newest subsidiary. Sierra Completions is a high-end aircraft completions company that focuses on state-of-the-art design and completion of dual- and single-aisle widebody aircraft built with composite airframe.

Those interested in watching the partial solar eclipse expected Thursday may do so safely at viewing parties scheduled at Carson High School and Western Nevada College.

A total lunar eclipse will be viewable early Wednesday morning across all of Nevada and California, according to the National Weather Service in Reno. The eclipse will occur from 2:15 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. with peak viewing of the total eclipse roughly from 3:30 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. Mostly clear conditions expected. Bring a jacket.

Roof-top solar advocates are raising concerns about recommended changes to Nevada’s net metering policies that they say could discourage consumers from pursuing the alternative energy opportunities.

A draft order proposed by Public Utilities Commissioner David Noble recommends that the Nevada Legislature remove any statutory constraints on the commission’s authority to accurately assign net metering costs and benefits to the appropriate ratepayers.

Two recent solar storms may produce northern lights visible over Northern Nevada on Friday and Saturday.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center predicts that the two solar eruptions that happened earlier this week will travel past Earth, producing geomagnetic storms — explosions of magnetic field and plasma from the Sun's corona out into space.

The plain news is that Tesla motors sealed a deal with Nevada to locate a major new plant in Reno. You'd think that would be good news, with major investment and thousands of permanent jobs for the area. People should be cheering. But it comes in exchange for major tax breaks. That’s the bad news. So, instead of cheering, some people are turning on the Governor and others. Some, like the Nevada Policy Research Institute (NPRI) are raising policy, legal and constitutional issues.

Tesla Motors has officially chosen Nevada as the location to build a $5 billion battery plant for its electric vehicle batteries.

“The gigafactory is an important step in advancing the cause of sustainable transportation and will enable the mass production of compelling electric vehicles for decades to come,” said CEO of Tesla Motors Elon Musk.

Welcome back to another week of Senator Square, all news about students, staff and events at Carson High School. If you have information you’d like the community to know about in relation to CHS, please contact me agolik@carson.k12.nv.us.

Speech and Debate

Welcome back to the first edition of the 2014-2015 Senator Square column: all news about Carson High School. Hope the summer was great for all of our staff and students. Staff returned last week and have been busy preparing for the students to arrive tomorrow.

The bell schedule for Monday will be an all period day, which means students will go to every one of their classes. The A-B Day rotation of classes will start on Tuesday when students will go to their A Day classes and Wednesday to their B Day classes. Classes begin at 7:40 a.m. and conclude at 2:05 p.m. each day.

With the August completion of a 180-kW rooftop array at Western Nevada College in Carson City, nonprofit Black Rock Solar has reached the milestone of building five megawatts of solar power capacity across the state of Nevada. The 83 clean energy projects built by Black Rock Solar since its 2007 founding include arrays for schools, hospitals, food banks, homeless shelters and Native American tribes. These arrays have been built at little or no cost to the recipients, but now provide more than $725,000 of combined savings annually on the organizations’ energy bills.

Have you been noticing how high your electric bills are? Thinking about how nice it would be to have solar panels, without the high cost of installation? If you are dreaming of adding solar panels to your home, then you may be in luck.

FISH, the local nonprofit that provides food, instruction, shelter, and health care to those in need is partnering with Black Rock Solar to give FISH donors the chance to win a solar array.

YERINGTON - Hoop houses have changed the face of Nevada agriculture, and farmers continue to discover new opportunities and challenges.

Since 2009, Western Nevada College has actively sought ways to be sustainable in the operation of its campuses. Through continuing efforts and a commitment to use green energy, that vision is rising to new heights.

Black Rock Solar, a nonprofit corporation in Reno that specializes in expanding the use of renewable energy, just completed installation of 666 panels atop the Bristlecone Building on the Carson City campus. At 180 kilowatts, the project is Black Rock’s largest roof array to date.

An ancient forest of mature pine trees, standing upright under 100 feet of water in a small lake in the Lake Tahoe Basin, helps scientists as they study how changing climate can affect mountain environments and the communities in them. The trees, discovered and studied by a University of Nevada, Reno, researcher, are remnants of a 200-year-long medieval drought.

The site is a stop on one of the field trips of a four-day international conference on mountain observatories held at the University of Nevada, Reno July 16-19.

What: The 30th Annual Reggae On The River®
Where: French’s Camp (Humboldt County- Garberville, CA)
When: July 31, August 1-3, 2014. Tickets on sale now!
Why: Celebrating 30 years of Reggae On The River®- back again at the original venue! Not to be missed!!!

Reggae On The River® Celebrates 30 Years! – Back once again at the festival’s original venue- French’s Camp, July 31, August 1-3, 2014

UPDATE: Carson City Battalion Chief John Arneson says there was one fire only near the fireworks area with firefighters coming from multiple locations to fight it. He said firefighters attacked the fire from three locations, extinguishing it within 20 to 30 minutes after it started.

CARSON CITY — Homeowners who install solar systems to reduce their power bills could one day find themselves paying more for the privilege.

Saturday evenings will be stellar this summer at the Jack C. Davis Observatory of Western Nevada College. A series of free slide lectures will be offered, June 14 through August 23. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 7:30 p.m. lectures.

Mike Thomas will offer lectures on June 14, July 12, August 9 and August 23. John Dykes will offer a lecture on July 26. On all Saturday evenings, the observatory will continue its Saturday Star Parties featuring free telescope viewing at the Carson City location.

Lecture Topics include:

USDA Rural Development will hold a workshop June 12 to help rural small businesses and agricultural producers apply for the federal Rural Energy for America Program funds.

The workshop will be conducted via video teleconference from 9-11:30 a.m. at Cooperative Extension offices in Carson City, Ely, Eureka, Yerington, Caliente and at the Logandale Office. USDA Rural Energy Coordinator Mark Williams will lead the training from the Carson City location to help applicants understanding the REAP application process.

A 40-year-old Reno man was arrested Tuesday by Douglas County authorities following an investigation that lasted several months into stolen solar energy equipment.

Geoffrey Earl Meudt, a former resident of Gardnerville, faces a felony charge of possession of stolen property, said Douglas County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Pat Brooks. From November 2013 to April 2014, there were five separate thefts in Douglas County of electrical producing solar panels and associated solar energy system components.

The Nevada 150 Commission unveiled the design of the third medallion in the Sesquicentennial series of four, as chosen by Nevada elementary students. The winning design, announced Wednesday, features some of the State’s most iconic landmarks including the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, the Reno Arch and Wendover Will.