Western Nevada College President Dr. Carol Lucey cuts the ribbon on the College's new 200kW solar array with help from Bruce Bullock, NV Energy Vice President of Customer Relations.

On April 18 2012, Western Nevada College dedicated a 200-kilowatt solar photovoltaic array at its Carson City campus. The array, installed by Black Rock Solar, is the largest solar project to date in the Nevada higher education system.

“I want to thank Western Nevada College for their overall commitment to sustainability and clean energy,” said Patrick McCully, Black Rock Solar’s Executive Director. He also thanked NV Energy for its financial support. “The funding for this project came from NV Energy,” McCully said, “and obviously it would not have been possible without their assistance.”

Dr. Carol Lucey, Bruce Bullock and Patrick McCully with a $940,000 check from NV Energy to fund the array's construction.

Black Rock Solar worked with Western Nevada College to choose an installation site, design the array, secure funding and complete the installation. NV Energy’s RenewableGenerations program provided funding to make the project possible.

The 800-panel array offsets the energy equivalent of roughly 40 homes and prevents 270 tons of carbon from being released into the atmosphere, Bruce Bullock, NV Energy Vice President, explained to the crowd of reporters and officials who came to mark the occasion. As of April 2012, NV Energy photovoltaic arrays produce 30 megawatts of power, or enough to offset 18,000 homes.

With the money saved on its utility bill, Western Nevada College can continue providing a quality education to Northern Nevada students. “With the college’s significant budget reductions in the last several years, we look for every opportunity to save resources, and this is an unbelievable one,” said Dan Neverett.

Along with budget savings, this array is part of the College’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. Dr. Carol Lucey, Western Nevada College President, reminded the crowd that the College’s library was “green before green was fashionable.” Over the past years, several campus initiatives have targeted sustainability as a primary goal.

Pam Robinson, Nevada Policy Advisor for U.S. Senator Dean Heller, shows off her solar sunflower.

The dedication was a festive affair, with visitors sharing sun tea and Sun Chips, and NV Energy providing dancing solar flower toys as party favors. Carson City Toyota was on site showing hybrid cars, and the RenewableGenerations demonstration vehicle was also on site with its roof-mounted solar panels and wind turbine.

During the dedication ceremony, Patrick McCully shared with the crowd how important projects like these are to Black Rock Solar. “We are a nonprofit,” he said. “Our clients are all other schools like Western Nevada College, and tribes and nonprofits. Thanks to NV Energy and the incentive system, we’ve been able to build these systems at very low or no cost for our clients. We’re very pleased that these very worthy clients are saving money while we’re creating environmental benefits for society in general.”

For more photos from the event, see our WNC Dedication album on Flickr.

Black Rock Solar added another field trip to our list April 19, when 50 6th graders from Hunter Lake Elementary journeyed out to Nixon, NV. Students visited the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum and Visitor’s Center, which is partly powered by a Black Rock Solar array, to learn about Paiute culture and renewable energy.

The Museum is a stronghold of cultural history, attracting visitors from around the globe. Ralph Burns, a Nixon native and Paiute expert, gave the students some background on regional history and culture. He shared the Paiute Creation story and spoke phrases in Paiute so students could hear what the language sounds like.

Students toured the museum to learn more about Paiute history and culture.

A Hunter Lake student shows off her Solar VIP Pass

The Pyramid Lake Museum is the site of Black Rock Solar’s unique arrowhead-shaped array, which provides 18 kilowatts of electricity. Black Rock Solar Deputy Director Marnee Benson talked to the students about renewable energy and environmental stewardship, asking them what they knew about the energy they use every day. She helped them learn the difference between fossil fuels and renewables, led a discussion about responsible energy use and gave each student a Solar VIP Pass to commemorate the visit. Then students got to see the arrowhead array up close. Mike Small, a Black Rock Solar installer who worked on this array, talked with the students about how solar panels work and why they’re a good idea.

Throughout the field trip, students asked lots of questions, looking for the facts they needed to complete an informational scavenger hunt. By the time the trip was over, they were tasked with discovering a list of facts about Paiute culture, Museum exhibits, solar technology and environmental topics.

Diana Dorman

Earth Day weekend was an exciting time for students from 11 Northern Nevada high schools, who took home a combined $17,000 in prize money for their sustainability efforts.

The GREENevada Student Sustainability Summit, now in its second year, took place last Friday. Once again, student teams presented wide-reaching proposals to improve sustainability practices on their campuses.

The Hug High School team took home $5,000 for their energy efficiency plan.

The winning team, from Hug High School, spent months doing an energy audit, interviewing faculty and staff, and calculating potential savings from changed practices. In the course of the students’ audit, they stumbled upon a surprising source of wasted energy: Classroom lights at Hug were being left on for several hours after teachers and students had gone. Meeting with the custodial staff, they discovered that the lights were being used as a record-keeping system to mark which rooms had been cleaned. The audit also revealed that teachers and staff were leaving computers and appliances turned on all day and night, instead of shutting them off.

Simply by working with the staff to design a new system, Hug team members found they could save the school over $11,000 per year in electricity costs. By adding energy-saving power strips, motion sensing lights and an education program for faculty and staff, the Hug team projected a $15,500 annual savings for a cost of under $6,000.

Student proposals ranged from on-campus organic gardens to improved recycling efforts, with runner-up Reed High taking home $3,500 with their plan to eliminate single-use water bottles on campus. Each team received prize money to make their plans a reality.

TMCC High School students dressed themselves in garbage to highlight their campus litter problems.

“You’re the leaders, and we’re really glad you’re here,” Marnee Benson, Deputy Director of Black Rock Solar and MC of the event, told the students. “You’re going to help the world solve some of its biggest environmental problems.” Nevada assemblyman David Bobzien also addressed the students, calling their work “remarkable” and congratulating them for being at the forefront of STEM education in Nevada.

“The kids here are great,” said Erich Smitt, Sims Recycling Solutions Regional Sales Executive and judge for the event. “They did a lot of research, a lot of work on these projects. Obviously their biggest challenge is going to be getting the word out to the rest of the students.”

“We put a lot of time and effort into our work,” said Bishop Manogue environmental advisor Branson Barr. “But we’re also trying to bring more students into the fold. There are so many other clubs at Bishop Manogue… environmental issues tend to get overlooked.”

Indeed, the Student Sustainability Summit represents a chance for environmentally-motivated students to meet their peers, talk with local leaders and learn more about how they can continue working for sustainable change.

Sonya Hem Giroux, Operations Director of the Nevada Land Conservancy, joined the panel of expert judges.

Sarah Sciarani Polito, Public Affairs representative from Waste Management, spoke to the students about the single-stream recycling service available to every school in the district. She was surprised to learn that many schools are not fully aware of how to use the service effectively. “Some [conservation] comes from an operations standpoint … but it really comes down to the students,” said Charlie Hoppe, Director of Facilities Management for the Washoe County School District. Tellingly, nearly every student proposal involved an education campaign to make the student body aware of how their actions affect the environment and their schools’ bottom line.

Thanks to a conflict with a swim meet, Sage Ridge School was only able to send one team member. He represented his team with a great presentation.

“Being part of the Environmental Club has really affected my view on the environment,” said Sergio Galvan, Wooster High student. “Now I realize that it’s a lot more serious than I thought it was.” Wooster’s plan to reduce waste by improving the school’s recycling bin system took them dumpster diving to find out what was being thrown away.

Each student team was accompanied by a teacher advisor who helped students form their goals, put together actionable proposals and calculate realistic budget requirements. “Our club formed through the efforts of our two advisors collaborating to bring us together,” said Spanish Springs student Roman Hartze. The teachers brought their students to GREENevada’s initial training conference to get them started. “That really inspired us to take action,” Hartze said. “From there, it was just a matter of recruiting members.” Spanish Springs came up with a plan to xeriscape their school with native, drought-resistant plants.

GREENevada is a coalition of Nevada nonprofits committed to bringing sustainability awareness into the school system, including the Alliance for Climate Education, Black Rock Solar, Envirolution, GreenPower, Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, Sierra Nevada Journeys, and Urban Roots Garden Classrooms. Throughout the year, these organizations reach out to local schools, offering educational and sustainable opportunities for students and staff. The Student Sustainability Summit is the culmination of all these efforts, and a collaborative effort between the organizations.

GREENevada leaders, clockwise from top: David Gibson of Envirolution; Morgan Tiar of Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful; Rebecca Anderson of ACE; Josie Luciano of Urban Roots; Joanna Furgiuele of Sierra Nevada Journeys; Marnee Benson of Black Rock Solar.

The Summit also owes its success to its sponsors, which provide the prize money. Black Rock Solar contributed $10,000 for this event; Waste Management donated $5,000. Peppermill Resort Casino and Sims Recycling Solutions each offered $1,000. Waste Management, Peppermill and Sims Recycling also each sent a judge to help pick the winning team.

The judging panel was comprised of local leaders in many fields:

• Dave Aiazzi, Reno City Council Member
• Katy Chandler-Isackson, Co-founder, Be The Change Project
• Bruce Deetken, CEM, CBCP, Mechanical Designer, Sustainable Energy Solutions
• Sonya Hem Giroux, Operations Director, Nevada Land Conservancy
• Charlie Hoppe, WCSD Director of Facilities Management
• Jen Huntley, Environmental Historian and greenUP! Director
• Dean Parker, Peppermill Executive Facilities Director
• John Sagebiel PhD, UNR Environmental Affairs Manager
• Erich Schmitt, Regional Sales Executive, Sims Recycling Solutions
• Sarah Sciarani Polito, Public Affairs, Waste Management
• Matthew Tuma, Regional Representative for Senator Harry Reid

GREENevada is proud of all the participating schools. Here are the official results and winnings for the 2012 Student Sustainability Summit:

WINNER – $5,000
Hug High School

RUNNER-UP – $3,500
Reed High School

SECOND RUNNER UP – $2,000
Davidson Academy

FOURTH PLACE – $1,000
Sage Ridge School
TMCC High School
Wooster High School

FIFTH PLACE – $750
Rainshadow Community Charter High School
Sparks High School

SIXTH PLACE – $500
Bishop Manogue Catholic High School
North Valleys High School
Pyramid Lake Jr/Sr High School
Spanish Springs High School

Black Rock Solar and Groupon Grassroots, the philanthropic arm of Groupon, are excited to announce the launch of a campaign to allow community members to help purchase solar panels for The Shade Tree, a Southern Nevada shelter for at-risk women and children.

Groupon Grassroots selected our Solarize the Shade Tree campaign as one of 50 campaigns to be featured during the week leading up to Earth Day. The campaign began today, and will run through Earth Day, Sunday April 22. Groupon Grassroots has provided a $1,000 kickoff grant to get the ball rolling; the rest is up to our generous community.

Groupon subscribers can pledge support for the Solarize the Shade Tree initiative in increments of $10. For every $500 donated, the Shade Tree receives one more 225-watt solar panel. Our ultimate goal is to raise $20,000 and build a 30kW array that will save The Shade Tree an estimated $7,000 per year on its electricity bill. Those savings can be used to provide shelter for women and children escaping abusive situations.

Volunteers at The Shade Tree give time, money and goods to keep the shelter running. Photo via The Shade Tree.

In a single year, the money savings from the solar array can provide 200 additional days of shelter for a woman or child.

Noah's Animal House cares for pets of all stripes while their owners regroup. Photo via The Shade Tree.

“This cutting-edge idea creates the opportunity for us to put every donor dollar to work three times over — not only to help the women, but to help the pets and to help the environment in the future,” said Marlene Richter, Executive Director of The Shade Tree. “In these hard economic times, many of our grants have been cut. [This initiative] will help us meet the bottom line, so the 3,500 to 4,000 newcomers who walk in our door can get the services they need to get back on their feet.”

The donations from the Groupon Grassroots campaign will be used to install a photovoltaic array for The Shade Tree’s Pet Sanctuary. Families are less traumatized when they can keep their dogs and cats with them, and the Shade Tree enables them to do just that.

“We’re especially honored to partner with Groupon Grassroots on this campaign,” said Black Rock Solar Deputy Director Marnee Benson. “Every dollar of the first $20,000 donated will go directly toward helping the Shade Tree get clean energy installed at the shelter.”

Black Rock Solar will receive funding if at least 50 people donate $10 each. Our ultimate goal: $20,000 to completely fund this array. If over $20,000 is received, the additional money will be used to fulfill Black Rock Solar’s mission of providing free or low-cost renewable energy to schools, medical facilities, native American tribes and non-profits like The Shade Tree.

In 2011, Black Rock Solar installed a 23kW solar array for C*A*R*E Chest, a Reno nonprofit that provides free medical supplies and equipment to those in need. Through the course of that installation, we had the chance to work with Pro Energy Consultants, a company that performs energy audits to help homeowners and businesses save money by saving power. The service made a big difference for C*A*R*E Chest, and we think it’s a great idea for everyone looking to save energy.

It’s estimated that a typical American household can save up to 35% of its annual energy expenses by implementing energy-efficient repairs and upgrades. A good energy audit will identify the places in your home or office where energy is being lost, and will recommend repairs and replacements.

Energy auditors can also evaluate the habits of the people using a building. In many cases, you can reduce your energy use simply by making a few changes in your routine, without needing to buy new appliances or make repairs to your building.

Making the recommended changes doesn’t just mean savings of hundreds or thousands of dollars for the homeowner or business owner, but also reduced energy consumption and a lower carbon footprint.

A Pro Energy thermal infrared scan clearly shows areas of heat transfer.

An energy audit assesses the efficiency of your home or business, and identifies your best options to save the most energy for the least cost.

An audit is especially useful for property owners looking to install a renewable energy system. Evaluating ways to conserve energy in the beginning will lead to a smaller, less expensive solar array or wind turbine at construction, saving money long-term and avoiding over-building the system.

Pro Energy provided a free energy assessment for C*A*R*E Chest, helping directors and administrators identify their most pressing issue: heat transfer. In most buildings, heating and cooling cause about 54% of annual energy costs. That percentage can be lower — or higher — depending on how good your building is at keeping air and heat where they belong. The C*A*R*E Chest building was losing heat through its attic, doors and windows. The solution was simple: insulate the attic and seal the cracks. No remodel needed.

A good energy audit like Pro Energy’s involves the following procedures:

A door blower moves air out of the house, creating negative pressure that helps testers identify leaks

1. An introductory assessment of the building layout, any comfort problems (e.g. rooms that are too hot or cold), and other concerns.
2. A complete physical inspection of the heating, cooling, water heating, ductwork, and building envelope (floors, walls, ceilings, roof lines, attic, crawl space, basement)
3. Significant diagnostic testing to assess the building’s integrity and efficiency. That includes blower door testing to put the building under negative pressure, combined with smoke testing and infrared imaging. The tests assess everything from air exchange to thermal insulation, identifying both deficiencies and sources of ventilation.
4. A report of all the testing results with specific recommendations for improvements, prioritized by their effectiveness. This creates a documented action plan to lower energy use.
5. For commercial buildings like C*A*R*E Chest, an analysis of utility bills to identify additional areas for change.

This type of professional assessment can save you a significant amount of money over time, while reducing your carbon footprint and your dependence on your utility provider. The energy audit is a service that will benefit almost any property owner, in particular those with older buildings, older appliances or traditional lighting.

“This energy audit was a real eye-opener,” said Black Rock Solar Deputy Director Marnee Benson. “Pro Energy included us in the entire process and made sure we understood their techniques and results. The C*A*R*E Chest now has an energy savings map they can use going forward.”

We highly recommend this type of service to homeowners and businesses alike. You’ll be pleased to discover how much you can save, and where those savings can be found.

Date Issued: April 12, 2012
Submission Deadline: May 5, 2012
Project Completion Deadline: June 15, 2012
Budget: $1,000

Background:

Black Rock Solar seeks an artist to design, construct and install a unique commemorative sundial that will become the centerpiece for a sun-shaped solar array. The array, located on Yerington Paiute Tribal lands, represents a collaboration between Black Rock Solar and the Tribe, and provides power to the tribal health clinic. It is designed in the shape of a geometric sun (see aerial photograph, below). The sundial will be permanently installed in the center of the array.

Aerial photo showing the geometric sun-shaped solar array.
This array is located adjacent to the Yerington Paiute Tribal Health Clinic, and directly across the street
from the Tribal Administration Offices.

Requirements:

The sundial should measure three to four feet in height and approximately 18 inches in diameter.
The sundial must be designed as a permanent installation: We want it to last as long as the solar array will, which means a minimum of 25 years. Please design the piece with a harsh, windy desert climate in mind, and be sure parts of the piece will not be easily stolen or vandalized.
The sundial must feature engraved or affixed lettering, to include the dedication date, names of the affiliated parties and, space permitting, a unique message to be determined.

While additional details of the sundial are open to creative design, themes such as renewable energy, the sun, or the Yerington Paiute Tribe’s history are particularly relevant to this project.

For questions and submission details, please contact:
Jessica Reeder
Black Rock Solar Communications Associate
sundial@blackrocksolar.org
775-237-8669

Click the image to see the full-size poster

“Scathing, Explosive” Documentary Exposes Deepwater Spill Cover-Up

Exclusive Screening in Reno

What: “The Big Fix” Film Screening
Where: University of Nevada, Reno, Jot Travis Building, Rm 100
When: Friday, April 20, 2012, 7:00 pm

On the two-year anniversary of the Deepwater Oil Spill, Black Rock Solar will host an exclusive screening of “The Big Fix,” a new documentary from acclaimed filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell.

The film is an official selection of the Festival de Cannes and has received rave reviews from international publications including The Los Angeles Times and The Guardian. With a 93% audience approval rating on RottenTomatoes.com, it promises to entertain and enlighten moviegoers who seek answers to the many questions surrounding the Deepwater Spill.

The film delivers answers, and many more questions: How was British Petroleum able to maintain control over media coverage of the story, even as the spill ballooned out of control? What are the implications of using a toxic chemical like Corexit to disperse petroleum in fragile waters? What does this spill mean for the Gulf States and the U.S. Economy?

Strikingly, Rebecca Tickell became ill during the film’s shooting, likely from exposure to Corexit. This first-hand reporting by the Tickells allows them to uncover truths overlooked by conventional media and paint an honest, though damning, picture of the modern oil industry’s environmental and socioeconomic impact.

“The Big Fix” will be screened nationwide over Earth Day weekend. This screening is presented by Black Rock Solar, a nonprofit dedicated to providing affordable and spill-proof renewable energy for schools, medical facilities, native American tribes and nonprofit organizations. The film is co-hosted by the UNR chapter of Occupy Reno.

“An explosive, attention-demanding, feature-length film focusing on the environmental fallout of the BP oil spill.” – The Times-Picayune

“It’s not every film that sets off on a mini-road trip with Peter Fonda, only to veer off into a night-vision goggle surveillance of a BP facility.” – The Guardian

“The film’s scope is staggering, including its detailed outlining of BP’s origins and fingerprints across decades of unrest in Iran.” – The Village Voice

Guest post by John Hargrove, RenewableGenerations Program Manager at NV Energy

NV Energy’s SolarGenerations program is helping Nevadans turn sunlight into electricity. The incentive program was created by the Nevada State Legislature in 2003. Since then, more than 1,300 small photovoltaic installations capable of generating a total of 28 megawatts of electricity have been installed statewide.

Along with residential electric customers and small businesses, schools and public buildings are eligible for the incentives.

The solar PV program grew at a record pace in 2011 when NV Energy electric customers installed over 19 megawatts of solar or 300 percent more than in 2010. That’s more capacity than had been installed in all the program’s previous years combined. In 2011, customers received $87 million  in incentives to help offset installation costs.

Includes Wind and Micro Hydro

Because of the success of the PV program, the Nevada Legislature expanded  the incentive program, renamed RenewableGenerations, to include small wind and hydroelectric installations. Since 2008, about 2 megawatts of wind power have been installed statewide, and “micro” hydroelectric plants are generating nearly 600 kilowatts of electricity for Nevada ranchers with access to streams.

RenewableGenerations has worked closely with Black Rock Solar to bring solar energy to the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada and other nonprofit organizations.

Funding for the RenewableGenerations program comes from a small fee included in the energy bills of NV Energy customers.  To learn more about the program go to NVEnergy.com/RenewableGenerations.

Photo by Michael Small

Our installation crew has just completed a unique array for the rooftop of Gallagher Elementary in historic Virginia City, Nevada. The 220-panel array was a particular engineering challenge for two big reasons: First, we couldn’t penetrate the roof to attach the panels; second, we had to make sure the array would withstand winds of over 100mph.

The ballasted racking system. Photo by Tom Thompson.

We selected a ballasted racking system, which uses distributed weight to hold the panels in place. The crew worked hard to get this one just right, and the completed array should provide around 45 kilowatts of power for the school.

More details when the array goes live. For now, we’re proud and happy to say this project was a success!

Photo by Tom Thompson

Clayton Middle School students smile after a field trip to The Children’s Cabinet

Black Rock Solar doesn’t just build solar arrays; we’re also committed to helping students learn more about renewable energy and what it means in our changing world. Last week, we had the chance to share our love for solar power with students from both Clayton Middle School and the University of Nevada, through a couple of educational outreach events.

About 60 Clayton students joined us at The Children’s Cabinet in Reno, where we commissioned a 28.5 kilowatt array back in 2011. The Children’s Cabinet, a nonprofit that provides services to young people from the ages of 0 to 22, is an excellent partner for student field trips. Not only do kids get to see solar panels up close and learn about how much money they can save, but they also have an opportunity to find out about the services The Children’s Cabinet provides for kids and their families in times of need.

The field trip includes an interactive lesson, where BRS Deputy Director Marnee Benson leads the class through the basics of energy production, what renewables mean for the environment and how families can be more energy conscious at home.

Students also learn all about The Children’s Cabinet’s family services, from day care to alternative education to finding kids help when they need it.

Clayton students show off their Safe Place bracelets.
The Safe Place program helps kids find adults to help them when they’re in immediate trouble.

The highlight of the trip is a fact-finding “scavenger hunt.” Students have a list of facts to discover, all of which are included in the presentations. To make sure they fill out their papers, they’ve got to ask lots of questions…

BRS Construction Manager Tom Thompson and Policy & Education Assistant Diana Dorman
teach kids about photovoltaic power and how a solar array works

…and they’ve also got to count each and every solar panel in the array.

In the end, everyone’s got new knowledge they can use both in the classroom and at home.

On a more grown-up note: Deputy Director Marnee Benson recently made her annual presentation to Professor John Scire’s Energy Policy and Politics class at the University of Nevada, Reno. Marnee spoke to the class about Black Rock Solar’s history and work, then went into detail about the legislative process, energy issues in Nevada, and Black Rock Solar’s work to influence energy politics.

We’re proud to have Marnee’s knowledge and expertise, and glad she’s able to share it with current students. It’s an excellent way to demonstrate how education and theory can be applied in the professional and political spheres — and as a past member of this class, Marnee is perfectly suited to explain just what that education really means.

Photos by Jessica Reeder.