The U.S. Air Force is building the largest solar plant on the continent for the Nellis Air Force base in the Nevada desert. The massive photovoltaic array with silicon wafer panels covers 140 acres and will produce 15 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 30 percent of the base’s needs. The panels will even rotate to follow the sun across the sky.

The Air Force expects to save around $1 million each year from lower electric bills. The $100 million projected capital cost is being funded by private investors, with the Air Force paying none of the construction costs. The investors project a steady flow of revenue from the Air Force’s purchase of the electricity and substantial federal tax subsidies.

Despite the high costs of solar, Nellis Air Force Base sees a real value of relying on clean, renewable energy. Major Don Ohlemacher, operations flight chief and acting commander of the 99th civil engineer squadron at Nellis:

“It allows the Air Force to show its leadership in applying renewable energy and new technology to reduce our needs to use traditional forms of electric power.”

Others are also positive about solar power, but point out that there are other renewable energy technologies as well. Paula Mints, associate director and photovoltaic specialist with Navigant Consulting:

“The industry has some problems to solve. A lot of people are focusing on these large fields as a way to bring down the price of solar…They certainly have their place in the energy portfolio, but there are a lot of other technologies out there."

The plant will not have a battery to store the energy and will serve as a supplemental rather than a primary generating source.

Air Force Times
USA Today