Black Rock Solar broke ground yesterday on our largest project to date, a 200 kW array for Western Nevada College (WNC) in Carson City.  Our crew is busy laying out the array on this challenging piece of sloping land just west of the campus’s Aspen Building.

BRS crew members assessing the new solar terrain

On Wednesday afternoon WNC President Carol Lucey was on hand to officially kick off the construction phase of this exciting renewable energy project.  Stay tuned for weekly updates and read  our press release here:

Western Nevada College: Solar Energy Project Beginning

CARSON CITY – Western Nevada College broke ground Wednesday on a solar energy project that is expected to save the college as much as $28,000 each year in electricity costs. Black Rock Solar of Reno, a non-profit corporation that seeks to expand the use of renewable energy, is working with WNC to install a solar panel system on the Carson City campus.

The 200-kilowatt array will be located on the western side of the 200-acre campus, behind the Aspen Building. The site is surrounded on three sides by undeveloped college property.

Upon completion of the project, WNC will receive an incentive payment of $940,000 from NV Energy to support the project. According to Marnee Benson, deputy director of Black Rock Solar, the project provides a $950,000 value at no cost to the college. “Black Rock Solar is delighted that our array – one of the largest yet built for a Nevada school – will save Western Nevada College and its students hundreds of thousands of dollars over the coming years, at the same time assisting the school in meeting its goal of energy sustainability,” she said.

“This collaboration offers many benefits to the college,” said WNC Vice President of Finance & Administrative Services Dan Neverett. “Economically, it makes sense for today and for the future. It allows the college to lower energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” while decreasing the college’s demand for energy. In this way, it also helps the college to meet the financial challenges resulting from reduced state funding to higher education.

“We’re pleased that NV Energy’s SolarGenerations program makes solar power investments affordable for WNC and other educational institutions in Nevada,” said Mary Simmons, vice president of external affairs for NV Energy. “Since 2004, a total of 149 schools statewide have reduced their power bills and carbon emissions with photovoltaic solar panels,” she said.

Neverett said the project directly supports the college’s ongoing sustainability efforts. WNC President Carol Lucey signed a national climate commitment in 2009 that commits the college to increasing energy sustainability and making WNC carbon neutral.

“This project demonstrates that we have and will continue to actively explore opportunities which support alternative energy generation and use,” Neverett said.

A groundbreaking ceremony at Western Nevada College Wednesday for the solar array project included, L-R, Black Rock Solar Construction Manager Tom Thompson, WNC President Carol Lucey, WNC Facilities Management Director David Rollings, and Black Rock Solar System Designer Joe Pizur.

Posted by Marnee Benson

Black Rock Solar is back from the playa with a familiar glow and lots to report.  It was a heck of a year, with a record number of solar powered art installations and a bunch of events at our “Everywhere” home base.  Highlights!

Solar VIP Tour

Black Rock Solar hosted a Solar VIP Tour to showcase the wide-ranging renewable energy and efficiency work being done by people on the playa.  Fresh mint juleps were poured over ice as we boarded the Surly Bird and launched the 1^st Annual tour.

The Surly Bird hits the streets of Black Rock City

Michelle Ochoa, Marnee Benson, and Ryan Jackson (aka Nascar) conducting the playa-wide, playafied solar tour

The first stop was Nectar Village, a camp with over 300 people and two ground-mounted solar arrays provided by Snow Koan Solar.  It’s the largest solar installation on the playa, at 31 kW, and produces enough electricity to power all of the camp’s operations.  Will Power led the group through camp, which is on a grid, much like the grid you’re probably on at home.  The array provides central power, distributed via circuits, cables, and cords to individual tents, trailers, and common areas.

The panels at Nectar Village are high enough off the ground to provide shade for tents and common areas

Over 500 people camp together with not a single generator at the Alternative Energy Zone (AEZ).  AEZ is one of the pioneering, radically self-sufficient, fossil fuel minimizing groups on the playa; they’ve been around since 2001.  And their website is FULL of helpful information.  Unlike Snow Koan however, each set of campers at AEZ provides their own energy solution, whether it’s solar, wind, or surviving without electricity altogether.

Former runway model and current AEZ Mayor Jolly Roger talks about alternative philosophies, the sound of quiet, and Aluminet

Appreciation was given en route to myriad art installations including the Circle of 22 Regional Effigies surrounding the Man (all powered by Snow Koan Solar!) and Peter Hudson’s Charon, the zoetrope that blew your mind.  The solar panels at Charon provided nighttime power to the rowing skeletons’ eerie lights.

"Charon" by Peter Hudson (photo by Ryan Doyle)

After brief stops at Camposanto and Mountain Mayhem, the group went to the tiny but absolutely inspiring Camp Conduit.  Here, Bill and Marta use one small solar panel and a host of innovative sustainability measures to live and lounge at Burning Man.  From a custom-built shade structure with crow’s nest above the custom-built kitchen to a fabricated cooler that keeps ice frozen for 3-4 days, Camp Conduit has raised the bar and given new meaning to the term radical self-reliance.  And they give away hats!

Black Rock Solar Board member Dan Porras with Bill and Marta from Camp Conduit

Solar Summit

On Tuesday afternoon Black Rock Solar hosted a Solar Summit where people from all over the country came together to meet and exchange ideas about renewable energy, sustainability, and climate change.  (Truthfully, they may have been lured by the mint juleps and grilled cheese.)

Peeps at the Solar Summit included Black Rock Solar Crew Supervisor Dave Lasky, Black Rock City Sign Shop Goddess Mel Waters, blogger and journalist Jessica Reeder, and Jen Forbes

Burners Without Borders’ Director Carmen Mauk (center) stopped by to talk about her organization’s international projects (pictured with Michelle Ochoa and Marnee Benson)

Everywhere Lane was brimming with live music by Thee Hobo Gobbelins and hot grilled cheese sandwiches served by the fabulous and semi-solar-powered Dust City Diner.

Thee Hobo Gobbelins perform at Everywhere

The Dust City Diner serves them fresh.

Real fresh. Earl Stirling on the line.

Black Rock Solar's Rosalie Barnes and DPW Playa Restoration Rock Star D.A.

Black Rock Solar’s Executive Director Paddy McCully and Board President David Shearer addressed the crowd from the stage of the solar-powered GOBImobile, the multi-media showpiece of the 501(c)3 GOBI Transformation Project based in Chicago.  Tad Snyder conceived this project and brought the mobile venue to the desert for the first time in 2011.  (The GOBI sound system is, um, well, extremely good.)

Paddy McCully and David Shearer on the solar-powered GOBI Mobile

As Paddy and David mentioned, Black Rock Solar has installed 1.4 megawatts of solar since 2007, the year we donated our first two arrays to the school system in Gerlach and Pershing General Hospital.  That translates to over $7 million worth of free solar to schools, hospitals, tribes, and other non-profit organizations across Nevada.

David Shearer and Dan Porras with a BRS supporter

Collaboration and volunteerism are one of the great pillars of Burning Man, and these two events benefitted greatly from our network of wonderful helpers.  Big thanks especially to Diana Dorman, Mandy Stephen, Kelly Morris, and Karol Kmeto.

Happy and beautiful friends Diana Dorman & Mandy Stephen

Marnee, Carmen, Kelly, and Karol making sure no mint juleps go unattended

Everywhere

“EVERYWHERE” is the playa home base for Black Rock Solar, Black Rock Arts Foundation, Burners Without Borders, and the Burning Man Regional Network.  Located on the Esplanade at 6:15, this space brings together people, ideas, and information from the Burning Man affiliate groups and what they are doing the other 51 weeks of the year.

Everywhere photo by James Addison

The Everywhere crew during tear-down

During Burning Man, each group staffs the space during the day and hosts events to bring people together, answer questions, and catch up on new projects.  This year we were joined by the Burning Man Project, the new non-profit organization created by Black Rock City, LLC. to uphold and manifest the values described in the Ten Principles of Burning Man.

Everywhere photo by James Addison

Electricity for Everywhere 2011 was provided by a mobile solar array from SunPods Energy Solutions in San Jose.  Dan Jaeger and Ben Gumm had never been to Burning Man, but they love what we’re doing and drove out to the playa to drop a fully mobile, self-ballasted, 3 kW array across the Esplanade from Everywhere.  We’ve never seen anything like it- it took about five minutes to install, and then the guys were ready for their first tour of the city.

SunPod solar array adorned by art "Is Land" by Sarah Cockings and "Beat Wave" by Jurgen Meyer H. Architects

Over and Out

It was great connecting with so many supporters on the playa this year.  Thank you for sharing your brilliant ideas and accomplishments with us and with each other.  We look forward to seeing you in 2012!

by Marnee Benson

Black Rock Solar is hosting a Solar Summit at Burning Man 2011. You’re Invited! Please celebrate with us!

Solar Summit

When: Tuesday 8/30

Where: Everywhere Camp (6:15 and Esplanade)

Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm

• Join Burners from all over the country doing work in renewable energy, art, climate change, sustainability, and environmental policy
• Mint juleps, Arnold Palmers, cold white wine, and beer
• Live music by That Damned Band and a DJ set by the solar-powered GOBImobile
• Grilled cheese sandwiches by the Dust City Diner
• The Black Rock Solar staff, crew, and Board of Directors

RSVP to solarsummit2011@blackrocksolar.org

by Jessica Reeder

Reed High Eco Warriors won first place and $12,000 to make their sustainability dreams for their school a reality.

On Earth Day 2011, Washoe County high school students shared their biggest green ideas and won thousands of dollars to help make those ideas become reality.  The GREENevada Sustainability Plan competition was funded in part by a $50,000 grant from Pepsi REFRESH. Last week $28,000 was awarded to nine participating Washoe County high schools whose student teams came up with their own plans to make their schools more environmentally friendly and energy efficient. Each team submitted a written proposal and budget, and made a visual presentation in front of a panel of expert judges.

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval congratulated all the schools for participating in this competition.

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval stopped by to praise students for their hard work. “As the governor, renewable energy is very important to me. We just signed a contract to have every state building studied for the possibility of installing solar, so I think that’s a great opportunity for the state… I want to congratulate all the schools that have been involved in this competition. What you’re doing, I think that it’s very important. What you’re offering is something that becomes a part of the culture in the state of Nevada.”

The Grand Prize winner was Reed High School. Reed students plan to upgrade the school’s bathrooms, cutting back on wasted water and energy, and potentially saving their school thousands in utility bills. They walked away with $12,000 to make it happen.

Reed high school students were all smiles on Earth Day 2011.

“We put in everything. We dedicated all our time to it. We really worked,” said Reed High senior Hector Tinajero. The whole school supported the “Eco Warriors” in their campaign for change. “We have morning announcements,” Tinajero said. “Everybody loves the little jokes and stuff. They’re really for it.” The club’s membership rose, even as students worked through their lunch periods, after school and on Saturday mornings. Tinajero said his team was deeply inspired by a presentation from the Alliance for Climate Education, and that they owed their success to advisors Leigh Metcalfe and Genevieve Morehouse.

Rainshadow Community School presented a winning plan that included planting fruit trees on school property.

Reed wasn’t the only school with big ideas. Rainshadow Community Charter School won second place with their plan to install fruit trees, a rooftop greenhouse and an aquaponic pond on school grounds. Rainshadow students plan to reopen their campus pizza parlor, which sells handmade pizza made with local and organic ingredients. They won $7,000 to get their dream of a self-sufficient campus off the ground. Most of the Rainshadow team are graduating seniors, but the project will continue under the leadership of advisor Joe Ferguson.

Hug High students won third place. They propose recycling the plastics at their school lunch.

Hug High School took third place. Hug students calculated that their cafeteria hands out 600 Styrofoam cups every day, or 720 lbs. of Styrofoam each year. Styrofoam may contain hormone disrupters that can harm young people’s health, and it does not degrade in landfills. However, switching to an eco-friendly alternative would be too costly, and Hug’s cafeteria doesn’t have the capacity to wash reusable cups. While ditching Styrofoam may not yet be possible for Hug High, the team plans to use its $3,000 prize to encourage awareness, increase recycling and reduce the school’s garbage output by 25 percent.

Fourth place was an even tie between:

§  The Academy for Arts, Careers and Technology (AACT)

§  Sage Ridge

§  The Davidson Academy

§  McQueen High School

§  Sparks High School

§  Wooster High School.

Sparks High students developed a presentation on recycling that they can use with middle school and elementary students.

Each team won $1,000 for their creative and ambitious projects, which ranged from pedal-powered computer charging stations to student-run composting programs and implementing a school-wide value pillar for environmental stewardship. Sparks High even came up with a presentation on recycling, which they can perform at middle and elementary schools to help spread awareness.

Sage Ridge high students have built a garden that 4th and 5th graders can use.

Sage Ridge’s environmental campaign first gained momentum last year, when students formed an Environmental Policy class and mapped out goals and objectives to green their campus. This small school with less than 400 students managed to install a workable garden, get 5th and 6th graders to run recycling and composting programs, convince staff to clean lunch tables with vinegar instead of chemicals, and reduce the school’s carbon footprint by 7 tons of CO2 in the past year.

McQueen High developed the slogan "Go Green for McQueen" to develop environmental awareness. Their program director even dyed his beard in support of the group.

McQueen’s Environmental Coalition is working hard to get students to “Go Green for McQueen.” They make and sell T-shirts and bracelets to help raise awareness, and it works. “The first year, [students] don’t really pay attention,” Treasurer Brian Goga said. “But then as they move higher up in the school, they start getting more involved.” This year’s AP Environmental class had 40 members at one point.

Each team had teacher and parent advisors who helped them refine their plans, prepare their presentations and work up their budget proposals. Advisors were also their teams’ biggest supporters: McQueen advisor Michael McMurray even went so far as to dye his beard green in a show of solidarity. GREENevada presented each advisor with a thank-you gift for all the unpaid hours and moral support they’d given to help their student teams design a better future.

The AACT High School Team with John Hargrove of NV Energy.

John Hargrove is the Renewable Generations program manager for NV Energy, but he’s also a proud dad to Jason Hargrove of AACT. “I can’t wait to watch these presentations,” he said. “As much fun as these kids at my son’s school had, and as big as their ideas got so quickly, this room is full of that… This presentation today is just the start. They’re creating programs that are going to stay running forever.”

Wooster High students proposed an effiency competition between teachers and students.

One of the most inspiring ideas of the day came from the Wooster High team, who suggested having teachers and students compete for the biggest reduction in energy use. For many of these teams, the challenge isn’t just to change their surroundings, but to influence their peers. How can young people spread their enthusiasm for environmental change to new hearts and minds? GREENevada is helping provide new ways for students to affect real change.

GREENevada is a collaboration between the Alliance for Climate Education, Black Rock Solar, Envirolution, GreenPower, Sierra Nevada Journeys, and Urban Roots Garden Classrooms.

Photos by Cindie Geddes and Jessica Reeder.