Las Vegas Solar Energy Projects Focus on Solar Carports

The City of Las Vegas has stepped up their commitment to become a model of sustainability by implementing the first of many phases of solar power energy projects. The first phase involving the City of Las Vegas will focus on parks and community centers throughout the city. The plan involves building solar carports that will provide enough energy to power the location where they are installed.

Las Vegas is in Process of Constructing 1st Phase of Solar Energy Carports

Las Vegas has targeted five parks and community centers for solar carports and has already begun construction on the East Las Vegas project at 250 North Eastern. Las Vegas officials have created a cost effective way to build and maintain the solar carports and have already begun sending out the next set of bid invitations which will include fire stations focused primarily on the west side of town.

The solar carport idea has caught on like wildfire with the Las Vegas city officials and is slated to include the Clark County Business Administration Buildings near Downtown Las Vegas. Solar power is the alternative energy of choice for Las Vegas and Clark County officials based on the dynamics of the city.

The five parks and community centers that have already begun building their solar carport energy systems are spread throughout the city. The five locations are: East Las Vegas Community Center located near Eastern and the 95, All American Sports Park located on Buffalo near Summerlin Parkway, Ed Fountain Park located on Decatur blvd and Vegas Drive, Mirabella Community Center located near Jones Boulevard and the 95 and Veteran Memorial located at Pavillion Center Drive South of Summerlin Parkway.

Las Vegas 1st Major Steps to Sustainability Should Spark Private Business Involvement

The significance of this first step with the solar covered carports by the city of Las Vegas is that businesses, including the major casino companies in town, will eventually get on board with the green energy movement. The next step in the City of Las Vegas grand plan for creating a sustainable city model will focus on fire stations within the city.

Eight fire stations and two fire equipment mechanic yards will have solar carports constructed. The solar carports constructed for the fire stations will be made with traditional glass style solar panels. The possibilities are endless once these first critical steps are implemented. The next step for Las Vegas must include police sub stations and an implementation of solar powered streetlights and traffic lights throughout the city.

Mayor Oscar Goodman and Tom Perrigo, deputy director of administrative services for Las Vegas also known as "The Green Man," displayed a different solar panel that will be used for parks and community centers. The pilot project that was built at the Stupak Community Center, utilized a durable version of a solar panel that is not made of glass.

"With the glass, of course, it's glass. So if kids are throwing rocks, or whatever, they're a little susceptible to damage and they're quite expensive," Perrigo said. "These, you can throw a rock on it and it doesn't damage it."

Perrigo said at the December 9th unveiling at the Stupak Community Center, "You could stick this on any carport," he said. "Part of this is to sort of get it out in the community and get people to see it and understand it."

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