Western Nevada College (WNC) in Carson City is reducing the college’s power bills with a new 200-kilowatt solar installation. The photovoltaic solar panels can produce up to 360,000-kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

WNC is dedicating the project as part of the college’s Earth Week activities on Wednesday, April 18, at 11 a.m. behind the Aspen Building at the college campus, 2201 West College Parkway, in Carson City. 

The solar panels were installed by Black Rock Solar of Reno, a non-profit corporation that’s working to expand the use of renewable energy. It’s the largest solar project that’s been installed at a Nevada college. 

At the dedication, WNC is receiving a $940,000 rebate from NV Energy’s SolarGenerations program to offset installation costs for the project. Since the start of the program in 2004, more than 1,300 solar projects capable of generating nearly 30 megawatts of electricity have been installed statewide by homeowners, small businesses, schools and government agencies. Participants have received over $126 million in rebates from SolarGenerations, which was created by the Nevada State Legislature to encourage renewable energy development.

“This project once again demonstrates that Nevada is a leader in renewable energy,” said John Hargrove, manager of Energy Efficiency and Conservation for NV Energy.  “Our Legislature and Public Utilities Commission have created the framework for these types of projects and NV Energy is proud to be involved with WNC in helping see it through to fruition.

“Western Nevada College is fortunate to have exceptional partners in NV Energy and Black Rock Solar to make this project possible,” said Daniel Neverett, vice president for Finance and Administrative Services at WNC. “Without their leadership and commitment, WNC’s sustainability efforts would not have progressed this far.  This type of collaboration is future-focused and critical to new projects, including a possible second solar array linked to the WNC Reynolds Center for Technology. As a result of working together, we can shape a cleaner, more sustainable environment.”

Hargrove said the panels at WNC will reduce the college’s carbon emissions by 270 tons per year and that they will be capable of producing enough electricity to serve 40 households in northern Nevada for a year.

SolarGenerations rebates are offered through NV Energy’s RenewableGenerations program, which also offers rebates for solar water heating, wind turbines and small hydroelectric installations. For more details, visit www.nvenergy.com.