80-acre Nevada solar project coming soon via Bombard Renewable Energy
Thomas Husted, CEO of Valley Electric Association, Inc., speaks during a press conference at the National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas on Aug. 24.
Valley Electric Association, Inc. (VEA), a nonprofit, member-owned electric cooperative, announced detailed information about the plan to begin construction this year on a 15-megawatt solar energy generation project in Pahrump, Nevada. Utilizing Nevada union workers and American-made materials, this solar project will generate affordable renewable energy while creating new jobs and tax revenue within the Silver State.
The project site for Valley Electric Association’s community solar energy generation project.
The solar project is expected to begin delivering energy on July 1, 2016. Bombard Renewable Energy, a division of Bombard Electric, LLC, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of MDU Resources Group, will handle engineering, procurement and construction for the project, which will include the installation of 54,000 PV panels across an 80-acre project site. The project will use American-made photovoltaic panels, inverters and steel throughout the solar field. The project will also include the construction of a 2,640-foot, 24.9-kilovolt distribution line.
Workers collect surface soil for analysis at the project site for Valley Electric Association’s community solar energy generation project in June 2015.
This community-focused solar project will utilize union labor and provide an estimated 200 jobs throughout the construction process. In addition, VEA and Bombard are working closely alongside state and federal agencies to protect the Mojave Desert tortoises at the project site. This involves a number of unique design and construction elements, including the creation of a large temporary habitat for desert tortoises. VEA will also facilitate and fund in-depth research and monitoring studies in partnership with government agencies and regional researchers to evaluate the impact of solar panel configurations on local vegetation, the tortoise population and birds.
Workers conduct core sampling work at the project site for Valley Electric Association’s community solar energy generation project in June 2015.
VEA’s fixed-rate power purchase agreement with Nevada Valley Solar Solutions I, LLC, another indirect subsidiary of MDU — which will operate the solar plant and sell the energy to VEA — provides the cooperative with one of the lowest-priced solar energy contracts in the nation.
“This is a solar project that truly stands alone,” said Thomas Husted, CEO of VEA. “At VEA, we value innovation and member service. Our status as a member-owned electric cooperative allows us to develop opportunities that promote local economic development while strengthening Nevada’s renewable energy industry. We are committed to positioning Nevada as a leader in the national renewable energy market, and we hope this innovative endeavor serves as a benchmark for future community solar projects across the country.”
