Media Contact: Karl Walquist (775) 834-3891

The Mineral County School District has received $63,401 in incentives from Sierra Pacific Power for investing in energy conservation and renewable energy. Rebate checks were presented at the district's school board meeting in Hawthorne on Jan. 22.

Sierra Pacific presented an $11,945 incentive check to the district through the utility's Sure Bet for Schools program. To earn the incentive, the district replaced fluorescent lights and fixtures with newer, more efficient models and replaced incandescent exit signs with signs incorporating high efficiency LED lights. The district also installed lighting occupancy sensors, upgradedcontrols for heating and cooling equipment, and installed equipment that switches off beverage vending machines at night when they're not in use. 

The energy efficiency improvements are expected to reduce the school district's annual electricity usage by nearly 239,000 kilowatt hours, according to John Hargrove, project manager for energy efficiency and conservation at Sierra Pacific. Among school facilities upgraded were Mineral County High School, Hawthorne Elementary/Junior High School, Hawthorne Primary School and Schurz Elementary/Junior High School.

Solar Energy for Schurz School
Sierra Pacific also presented a $51,456 rebate to the school district for installing a solar energy system on the roof of the Schurz Elementary/Junior High School that's expected to reduce the school's electricity usage by an estimated 20,000 kilowatt hours per year, Hargrove said. The thin film, amorphous silicone photovoltaic material can produce up to 10.2 kilowatts of electricity.

The school district earned the rebated through its participation in SolarGenerations, a statewide  program that provides cash rebates to electric customers who use photovoltaic technology to generate electricity. Among those eligible to participate are residential customers, small businesses, schools and government agencies connected to either the Sierra Pacific or Nevada Power electric grids.