Greetings from Solar NV! 

There is a lot going on in Southern Nevada these days as renewable energy systems are being built and coming online all over the valley. The growth in interest in solar energy is truly amazing and we are proud to be a part of it. Details on some of the latest developments are covered in this issue.

You may have noticed a slight change in the look of our newsletter and web site. Solar NV is evolving and we're updating our "look" as well as our communications methods. Please be patient with the process. It's a work in progress.

We've reworked our logo also. The yellow center represents the sun as a clean source of energy. This transforms into a symbolic green globe. We hope you like it!

May Meeting Announcement

Our next monthly meeting is coming up this Thursday, April 20. This month's program will feature a panel of three Solar NV members who will share their experiences living in solar-powered homes. Judy Schaeffer, Chris Brooks and Steve Rypka will each present their personal experience of living with renewable energy.

Topics will include energy efficiency, techniques, planning, passive solar strategies, concerns, etc. Then the format will open to an informal Q&A discussion that everyone can participate in.

Everyone, including nonmembers, are welcome to attend Solar NV meetings so please feel free to invite your friends!

The meeting will be held this Thursday, April 20th at 6:00 PM at The Gardens at the Springs Preserve. The Gardens is located at 3701 W. Alta Drive, east of Valley View Blvd., near US 95.

Location details, directions and a map can be found on our Meetings page.

Special thanks to our good friends at the Springs Preserve who so generously provide such a wonderful meeting space. If you are not familiar with the Springs Preserve, it is a very special, beautiful and educational experience that should not be missed.

Photo: Steve Rypka

The Las Vegas Valley Water District (LVVWD) is building a 3.1 megawatt Distributed Solar Array that will be the largest photovoltaic project built by a public agency in the United States. The project consists of photovoltaic systems located at six reservoir and pumping station sites.

The Ronzone Reservoir and Pumping Station PV array was recently finished and is the first of the six sites to begin operation. The power generated at the facility is utilized to support daily operations. Full build-out of the Distributed Solar Array is scheduled for late 2006. Once completed, the system will produce more than 5 million kWh per year of clean electricity without any water consumption.

The LVVWD's Distributed Solar Array was designed and built in cooperation with PowerLight Corporation.

Climate Change Issue Escalating

According to an article in The Independent, a UK paper, The United States emitted more greenhouse gases in 2004 than at any time in history, confirming its status as the world's biggest polluter. Latest figures on the US contribution to global warming show that its carbon emissions have risen sharply despite international concerns over climate change.

Read more...

Gorbachev Urges G8 to Back Solar Power, Not Oil or Nuclear

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev urged the world's biggest industrialized nations to set up a 50-billion-dollar (44-billion-euro) fund to support solar power, warning that oil or nuclear energy were not viable energy sources for the future.

Read more...

Upcoming Events

Solar NV Mission Statement

Some Things to Think About

Keep in mind that what we do is a group effort. We welcome ideas and submissions for articles for the newsletter and the Solar NV web site. If you would like to contribute something of interest (articles, links, photos, gold cuff links), and we hope you will, please email it to us at info@solarnv.org.

Special thanks to Solar NV member Walt Michaels for the head's up on some interesting stories.

If you appreciate the Solar NV eNewsletter and would like to become a member of the Southern Nevada Chapter of the American Solar Energy Society, please visit our membership page and sign up today. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

This eNewsletter is published by Solar NV, the Southern Nevada Chapter of the American Solar Energy Society.

www.solarnv.org

To unsubscribe, or make a comment or suggestion, contact Steve Rypka at steve@solarnv.org.