Las Vegas Government Now Running Entirely On Renewable Electricity

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The city government of Las Vegas, Nevada, is now running entirely on renewable electricity, city officials have announced. The announcement marks the achievement of a nearly decade-long effort to embrace renewables and achieve the 100% goal. (Note that the achievement isn’t for “100% renewable energy” since transport isn’t included, and it only concerns the city government — not everyone living in Las Vegas.)

The goal was finally achieved with the recent launch of a 100 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) project in the Eldorado Valley. Boulder Solar I, as it is named, was launched I in partnership with NVEnergy.

“Through a combination of direct generation and credits, the city is powering more than 140 facilities, along with streetlights, with renewable sources. A portion of what’s powered at the Boulder Solar I site is dedicated to the city,” the Las Vegas Review-Journal writes. “The city also generates energy to power on-site facilities with tree-shaped solar panels in the City Hall plaza, solar shade canopies at city parks and solar arrays on roofs and at the wastewater treatment plant. “

In relation to this achievement, it should be noted, the Hoover Dam will actually (for the first time) start supplying the city with some of its hydroelectric generation by the end of next year as well.

Inhabitat provides some background on the Las Vegas news: “The move toward renewable energy production began in Las Vegas in 2008. … It is estimated the city has saved a total of $5 million every year by shifting to renewable sources of energy.”

Despite some mistaken reports, Burlington, Vermont, remains the largest US city 100% powered by renewable electricity sources — the whole city, not just city government buildings.

Image by dcJohn (some rights reserved)