solar

Applications are being sought by the USDA from rural small businesses and agriculture producers looking to make energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy installations, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Monday. Up to $12.3 million in grants and $57.8 million in loan guarantees are available nationwide.

From the front, St. Mary’s Art and Retreat Center is the epitome of Virginia City’s Old West heritage. But take a peak around back and you’ll find an energy source that’s anything but old-fashioned.

Reno nonprofit Black Rock Solar just completed construction of a 110-panel ground-mount photovoltaic array at the National Historic Landmark, built in 1875. The 30-kW array will generate enough energy to cover almost all the electricity costs of the former Comstock hospital.

The following is 200 words, precisely at the limit for a letter to the editor of a newspaper. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO USE IT.

Dear Governor,
US Senators and Congressmen,
State Senators and Assemblymen,

Please launch a full investigation of the Bundy Ranch incident last week.

An extra-curricular activity at Eagle Valley Middle School, 11 Carson City students prepared for three months at after school meetings and on their own to compete in the state Science Olympiad held March 8 in Las Vegas. The team is coached by Josh Billings, 8th grade science teacher with assistance from family and teachers.

Black Rock Solar began construction in late February on two new Carson City area photovoltaic arrays: 324 ground-mounted panels at Sierra Lutheran High School and 193 rooftop panels at Silver State Charter Schools.

That means 135 kW of clean energy from the sun powering the 91-student Christian school and the 7th to 12th-grade charter school. It also means an annual utility-bill savings of more than $19,000 for the two schools – that’s $19,000 that can go toward expanded educational opportunities within the Carson City and Douglas County communities.

Well Howdy folks! I sincerely hope you all had a GREAT Thanksgiving! We do have so much to be thankful for.

One of the things I am thankful for is that we have finished updating all our office computers operating system to a newer version of “doors” (not the real name to protect the innocent). I haven’t noticed any improvement in productivity yet though. (I thought new computer stuff always meant new tools that make us more productive.

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Reno-based nonprofit Black Rock Solar has completed installation of a 130-panel photovoltaic array on the roof of Friends in Service Helping in Carson City.

That means 28 kilowatts of clean energy helping FISH provide medical services, groceries, showers, clean clothes, and yes, a Thanksgiving meal to those in the capital city who need it most.

The Carson City School District cut its energy bill at five schools by nearly $300,000 in a year, mostly due to solar power, a school official said Tuesday.

by SAGE LEEHEY If you’re interested at all in putting renewable energy technology — specifically, solar — on your home (or if you just want to learn more about it), the Desert Research Institute (DRI) and NV Energy are offering a tour of... Read More ›

The main mass of a rare meteorite observed in the skies over Carson City, Carson Valley and Lake Tahoe that exploded over California’s Sierra foothills in April 2012 will be preserved for current and future scientific discoveries, thanks to the collaborative efforts of five U.S. academic institutions.

Just in time for Independence Day, Reno-based non-profit Black Rock Solar has reached the milestone of building 3 megawatts of solar power capacity across the state of Nevada. That’s 3 megawatts of clean, renewable energy fostering freedom from fossil fuels and building a self-reliant nation independent of environmentally hazardous power-production methods.

A fascinating and colorful exhibition of space photography is on display in Carson City at the Western Nevada College Main Art Gallery through August. 23. The collection contains several dozen large photographs of Earth’s moon, planets in our Solar System and their moons, and colorful nebulae.

A photograph of the Observatory under the night sky, taken over a 40-minute duration, offers a fascinating look at the movement of stars in the night sky.

I fly the flag every day. The kids even bought a solar powered spot light so we can leave it out at night. I do it in honor for the time, before the renewed Muslim war against the world and before the “patriot” act, when people here and abroad knew that the American flag stood for liberty and liberation from tyranny.

But now…?

Now I look at the stars through teary eyes as each star is morphing into a swastika or a hammer-and-sickle — or is it a crescent moon?

A research group will use Carson City volunteers to help measure Pluto early Saturday morning at the Jack C. Davis Observatory.

The Research and Education Cooperative Occultation Network, a citizen science research project exploring the outer solar system, is conducing a campaign to measure Pluto just before 1:30 a.m.

Two free lectures by science experts - one about the violent geologic history of Lake Tahoe, another concerning global warming, will highlight the many free activities at Western Nevada College during Earth Week, April 22-27.
Renewable energy exhibits, an organic gardening lecture, alternative fuel vehicles and a tree planting ceremony will also be featured.

“Many diverse and interesting activities will be offered,” said Valerie Andersen, WNC public service librarian and college Earth Week event coordinator. Students, faculty and the public are invited to attend.

Nevada son and United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid addressed a joint session of the Nevada State Legislature today in Carson City. Here is the text of his speech:

The Carson City Greenhouse will offer tours of its premises on Saturday, October 6, 2012 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. At 10:30 a.m., Greenhouse manager Ray Saliga will present a workshop on propagating herbs from cuttings. The Greenhouse is located on the Carson High School campus, 1111 North Saliman Road. To reach it, turn into the high school property from Saliman Road at Robinson Street. The public is invited to attend.

CARSON CITY – It took all of about ten minutes for Sen. Dean Heller and Rep Shelley Berkley to mix it up in their first debate in the U.S. Senate race Thursday, criticizing each other on campaign issues ranging from ethics to Medicare to big oil subsidies.

The hour-long debate on KNPB-TV in Reno was the first chance for many voters to see the two candidates spar on the issues, most of which have already been the focus of campaign attacks in the race to date.

CARSON CITY – Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., said today that any “green energy” policy that leads to higher electric bills for Nevadans who are looking for work in tough economic times is the wrong energy policy for the state.

“Nobody is anti-green,” he said. “We struggle to compete with the cost of a kilowatt hour when we talk about economic development. And economic development has something to do with jobs.”

CARSON CITY – With U.S. Sen. Harry Reid’s 5^th annual National Clean Energy Summit set to kick off today in Las Vegas, the debate over alternative energy development and the government’s role in its future rages on.

CARSON CITY – Nevada ranks 40^th among the states for the amount of energy consumed per person, according to the nonprofit website EnergyTrends.org.

The state rankings were released on Wednesday and show Nevadans consumed 239 million Btu per capita in 2010 compared to 303 Btu per capita in 2007.

LAS VEGAS – State senate Majority Leader and 4th Congressional District candidate Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, said he supports the federal health care law that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in late June.

After more than a year in the making, the official opening of Bonanza Park in South Lake Tahoe on Saturday brought community members and families together in celebration of a cooperative public and private agreement made possible by city leaders and Edgewood Companies.
South Lake Tahoe Mayor Claire Fortier and Edgewood's CEO and president Chuck Scharer gladly cut the ribbon after months of negotiations allowing for future property and building rights in exchange for the public park.

A couple of views from Kings Canyon. These were shot with a Canon EOS 50D, 300mm lense, through a welder's helmet.

CARSON CITY – State lawmakers today approved $46,284 from a legislative contingency fund to help the Nevada Office of the Military cover a budget shortfall due to high energy costs resulting from a solar project built at three of its sites around the state.

But lawmakers also asked for an attorney general review of the 20-year deal with Sierra Solar to see if the 15 cent per kilowatt hour charge for the electricity can be modified. The rate is now higher than what the agency could get buying power directly from NV Energy.

There will be two events today in Carson City dedicating new solar generation installations.

This morning at 11:30 a.m., Officials with Western Nevada College, Black Rock Solar and NV Energy will be celebrating completion of a 200-kilowatt solar project at the WNC college. NV Energy will be presenting a check for $940,000 to the college as part of the company's SolarGenerations program to help offset the cost.

CARSON CITY – Nevada’s polices of low taxes and small government ranked it 18^th among states in its ability to compete and grow its economy, according to a report released today by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

CARSON CITY – Nevada’s Office of the Military figured it would be money ahead after entering into a contract with a firm to build solar panels on three of its sites around the state to supply it with electricity.

But today officials with the office won approval from the state Board of Examiners to seek $46,284 from a legislative contingency fund to pay excess utility costs. The reason is because the solar energy being provided under the contract is costing the agency more than if it purchased electricity directly from NV Energy.

The Copper Mountain Solar 1 facility in Boulder City that President Obama visited Wednesday is certainly impressive. With nearly 1 million solar panels, the nation’s largest operating solar facility can provide power for about 17,000 homes without producing any harmful emissions or sending any money out of state for dirty coal or foreign oil.

CARSON CITY – After months of prognostications and political maneuvering, Nevada’s 2012 election season crystallized today as the state’s two-week filing period for public office came to a close.

Next up: A June 12 primary followed by the Nov. 6 general election, which will see a lengthy ballot topped by the presidential race, a competitive U.S. Senate race and four congressional contests.

Also at stake is control of the state Legislature, particularly the state Senate, where Democrats have a razor thin 11-10 majority.