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National Guard's $17 million project to harness solar energy
National Guard's $17 million project to harness solar energy By Teri Vance tvance@nevadaappeal.com The solar project at the National Guard building is not a product of thinking outside the box, Chief Warrant Officer Jim Groth told a crowd gathered Monday. It is blowing "that box to smithereens."The guard kicked off its $17 million project Monday to harness the sun's energy with structures in Carson City and Las Vegas."For those who said it can't be done, step aside, as we're about to complete the task," Groth said.Construction will begin early next year on carports that will cover about half of the four-acre parking lot at the Office of the Adjutant General complex on Fairview Way. The carports will house solar panels that are expected to generate up to 60 percent of the energy needed to power the complex.On sunny days - about 290 a year in Carson City - the panels will produce 140 percent of the complex's needs between the hours of 10 a.m.-4 p.m.Gov. Jim Gibbons, who also spoke at Monday's groundbreaking