| In a plan that is less surprising than audacious, Las | | | | classrooms, an indoor gym/aerobic fitness and weight |
| Vegas city fathers plan to place solar panels on top of | | | | control center, a kitchen, a library and a game room. |
| carports at a number of city-owned and operated | | | | Opening is scheduled for this winter. |
| facilities. | | | | Two other solar projects, also slated for carport roofs |
| The $11-million plan, will reportedly cut the city's | | | | on public buildings, will finish the 950-kilowatt project, |
| electricity costs by about $300,000 a year when | | | | which is expected to reduce greenhouse gas |
| completed, and generate enough electricity to supply | | | | emissions and the city's carbon footprint by 949 tons |
| 170 homes. | | | | of carbon monoxide (which would have been |
| The solar panels in question have a life expectancy of | | | | produced by burning fossil fuels). Stupak Center solar |
| between 25 and 40 years (the first figure being closer | | | | project construction is expected to start in 2010. |
| to the expert's usual estimates), and the city's | | | | The new Stupak Community Center is slated for |
| investment of $600,000 from a "green" building fund will | | | | completion this fall, with an opening proposed for this |
| reportedly be recaptured in about 15 years. | | | | winter. The solar carport at the center is expected to |
| The rest of the funding - $4,150,000 of Energy | | | | break ground sometime in 2010. |
| Efficiency Community Block Grant funds (EECBG), | | | | The panels, funded from the Community Development |
| $1,276,738 from Community Development Block Grant | | | | Block Grant Recovery portion of ARRA, is the first |
| Recovery (CDBG-R, or ARRA) funds, and $5.1 million | | | | project approved in the region, which includes Nevada, |
| from New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, as well as | | | | California, Arizona and Hawaii, and will provide |
| utility rebates for renewable energy - makes up the | | | | between 10 and 30 percent of the center's power |
| balance. | | | | needs, depending on usage. |
| The project will initially start with three sets of panels | | | | The panels also provide covered parking, and they, |
| mounted across 34 carport stalls and paid for by | | | | along with solar installations at the wastewater |
| ARRA funding, and will be located at the new Stupak | | | | treatment plant, will move the city to 10 percent of |
| Community Center at 300 W. Boston Ave. (across the | | | | renewable power by 2011, which is close to Nevada's |
| street from the Chester Stupak Park). The center, built | | | | Renewable Energy Standard (RES) of 25 percent of |
| in 2008 at a cost of $7.5 million, is nearly complete and | | | | energy from renewables by 2025. |
| contains 34,183 square feet of ESL and general | | | | |