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SOLAR SANTAS GIFT MASSIVE ARRAY TO RURAL SCHOOL
Visit http://www.blackrocksolar.org for further information.
An unusual group of "solar santas" have teamed up to build and donate
a 90kW solar array to the schools of Gerlach, NV, offsetting their
entire energy needs and putting an extra $20,000 in the school's
coffer annually.
Gerlach Schools Go Solar for the Holidays
Burning Man, MMA Renewable Ventures, Sierra Pacific Power Collaborate
for Community Clean Energy
Gerlach, Nev. - December 18, 2007- Students in Gerlach will be
celebrating a "green" Christmas because their campus will soon be
powered by renewable energy. An array of solar panels installed at the
campus is expected to generate up to 162,000 kilowatt hours of
electricity annually for the next 25 years. The total energy savings
over that time period is expected to surpass $480,000. The
approximately $20,000 per year savings will directly benefit the
students and faculty of the rural school, according to the Washoe
County School District.
Gerlach's new 90-kilowatt, photovoltaic, solar power system resulted
from a pioneering collaboration between Sierra Pacific Power, Burning
Man, MMA Renewable Ventures and the Washoe County School District. The
panels were installed at no charge to the school district through a
combination of donated labor and materials and Sierra Pacific's
SolarGenerations rebate program. "The Burning Man community has long
been a part of the Northern Nevada community, and when this
opportunity to give something back came up we jumped on it," explained
Marian Goodell, board member of Black Rock City, LLC.
Representatives from the town of Gerlach, the school district, Burning
Man, Sierra Pacific and MMA Renewable Ventures will celebrate the
completion of the ground-mounted solar array on Tuesday, Dec. 18. The
installation consists of three 30-kilowatt solar systems, and they
provide nearly enough electricity to supply all of the energy needed
for the campus, according to Bruce Deetken, energy manager for the
school district. The Gerlach campus consists of three schools that
serve 83 students from kindergarten through high school.
"The solar panels will give our students good insight into the
different ways we can address global warming issues with renewable
energy," said Gerlach Principal Carol Kaufmann, adding that she is
working with the Desert Research Institute in Reno to incorporate the
solar project into their science curriculum.
"Because Gerlach is somewhat isolated, it is difficult to provide the
students with the same opportunities afforded to students in other
parts of Washoe County," Kaufmann said. "That's another reason why
this is a great opportunity for us."
Tuesday's event will also premiere the Burning Man organization's
plans, through the Black Rock Solar project, to install several more
solar projects in northern Nevada in cooperation with Sierra Pacific
and the SolarGenerations program. Rebates for schools and public
buildings participating in the program amount to $5 per watt of
installed solar energy.
"Our goal is to build low or no cost solar systems for communities
that otherwise might not develop them, and to build high-profile
projects that help speed the adoption of solar energy in Nevada,"
added Tom Price with Black Rock Solar.
Project costs will be partially offset by a $450,000 rebate provided
through the SolarGenerations program established by the Nevada State
Legislature in 2003 to encourage Nevadans to install solar energy. The
program is administered by Sierra Pacific Power in northern Nevada and
Nevada Power Company in Las Vegas. "Thanks to our State Legislature
and the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, our state has one of
the most aggressive programs in the nation to encourage solar energy,"
Sierra Pacific Program Manager John Hargrove said. "We are excited to
join with Black Rock Solar in helping schools and public facilities to
go green and save money on their energy bills."
Engineering expertise and labor for the Gerlach project was provided
free of charge by Black Rock Solar, a nonprofit project of Black Rock
City, LLC, which produces the annual Burning Man event in the Black
Rock Desert north of Gerlach, and by Brooks Engineering, one of the
leading experts in PV system design.
MMA Renewable Ventures, a leading clean energy project finance firm,
provided the solar electric equipment. The Gerlach solar energy system
celebration follows on today's dedication ceremony for another MMA
Renewable Ventures project in Nevada, a 14-megawatt system at Nellis
Air Force Base that is now the largest photovoltaic array in North
America.
"This collaboration for solar energy in Gerlach is an extension of our
philosophy that renewable energy should be cost effective and
accessible to all in this country, from the largest corporations to
the smallest rural towns," said Matt Cheney, CEO of MMA Renewable
Ventures. "We are proud to be helping the community with a reliable
source of clean energy and helping Gerlach's schools focus their
resources on their children."
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Tuesday December 18, 2007, at noon, 555 East
Sunset Boulevard in Gerlach. Images and video available upon request.
About Burning Man
The annual art event known as Burning Man, which began on a beach in
San Francisco in 1986, has grown to attract more than 47,000
participants annually, from every state of the Union and twenty-two
countries worldwide. For the last seventeen years, the increasingly
popular and influential event has been held in the Black Rock Desert
outside of Reno, Nevada. Based on corporate accounting and participant
survey data, it is estimated that Burning Man contributes almost $20
million annually to the northern Nevada economy. For more information,
visit www.burningman.com.
About MMA Renewable Ventures
A subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC "MuniMae," (NYSE:
MMA), MMA Renewable Ventures finances, owns and operates renewable
energy and energy efficiency assets in the United States. The Company
provides leases, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and other customized
financial solutions to help its customers manage energy costs. MMA
Renewable Ventures is dedicated to delivering competitively priced,
clean energy and energy savings to customers, strong partnership
options for project developers, and exceptional opportunities for
institutional investment in the clean energy sector. For more
information about MMA Renewable Ventures, visit www.mmarenewableventures.com.
About Sierra Pacific Power
Headquartered in Reno, Nevada, Sierra Pacific Power Company is the
principal utility for most of northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area
of California. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sierra Pacific
Resources (NYSE: SRP), which also is the holding company for Nevada
Power Company, the electric utility for southern Nevada. Sierra
Pacific Power also distributes natural gas in the Reno-Sparks area of
northern Nevada. For more information, visit www.sierrapacific.com.
About Black Rock Solar
Black Rock Solar is a non-profit project of the Burning Man community,
focused on addressing climate change and speeding the adoption curve
of renewable energy. By installing renewable energy at low or no cost,
Black Rock Solar puts much needed funds in the hands of communities
typically not served by the renewable energy industry, who then get to
decide how to best meet their own needs. Along the way, Black Rock
Solar creates educational opportunities for volunteers and
beneficiaries, and sponsor training to broaden the solar power
industry. Future projects will also include installation art that
explore these themes. For more information visit www.blackrocksolar.org.
http://www.earthtoys.com/news.php?section=view&id=3600
=============
DON'T MOURN, ACT! WEBSITES FOR ACTION:
http://www.earthshare.org/get_involved/involved.html
http://www.greenhousenet.org/
http://www.solarcatalyst.com/
http://www.campaignearth.org/buy_green_nativeenergy.asp
Overview and local actions you can take: http://www.PostCarbon.org
=============
= = = =
STILL FEELING LIKE THE MAINSTREAM U.S. CORPORATE MEDIA
IS GIVING A FULL HONEST PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON?
= = = =
Daily online radio show, news reporting: www.DemocracyNow.org
More news: UseNet's misc.activism.progressive (moderated)
= = = =
Sorry, we cannot read/reply to most usenet posts but welcome email
For more information: http://EconomicDemocracy.org/wtc/ (peace)
And http://EconomicDemocracy.org/ (general)
Email Note: "info" and "map" etc DON'T work. Now:
econdemocracy(at)gmail
Visit http://www.blackrocksolar.org for further information.
An unusual group of "solar santas" have teamed up to build and donate
a 90kW solar array to the schools of Gerlach, NV, offsetting their
entire energy needs and putting an extra $20,000 in the school's
coffer annually.
Gerlach Schools Go Solar for the Holidays
Burning Man, MMA Renewable Ventures, Sierra Pacific Power Collaborate
for Community Clean Energy
Gerlach, Nev. - December 18, 2007- Students in Gerlach will be
celebrating a "green" Christmas because their campus will soon be
powered by renewable energy. An array of solar panels installed at the
campus is expected to generate up to 162,000 kilowatt hours of
electricity annually for the next 25 years. The total energy savings
over that time period is expected to surpass $480,000. The
approximately $20,000 per year savings will directly benefit the
students and faculty of the rural school, according to the Washoe
County School District.
Gerlach's new 90-kilowatt, photovoltaic, solar power system resulted
from a pioneering collaboration between Sierra Pacific Power, Burning
Man, MMA Renewable Ventures and the Washoe County School District. The
panels were installed at no charge to the school district through a
combination of donated labor and materials and Sierra Pacific's
SolarGenerations rebate program. "The Burning Man community has long
been a part of the Northern Nevada community, and when this
opportunity to give something back came up we jumped on it," explained
Marian Goodell, board member of Black Rock City, LLC.
Representatives from the town of Gerlach, the school district, Burning
Man, Sierra Pacific and MMA Renewable Ventures will celebrate the
completion of the ground-mounted solar array on Tuesday, Dec. 18. The
installation consists of three 30-kilowatt solar systems, and they
provide nearly enough electricity to supply all of the energy needed
for the campus, according to Bruce Deetken, energy manager for the
school district. The Gerlach campus consists of three schools that
serve 83 students from kindergarten through high school.
"The solar panels will give our students good insight into the
different ways we can address global warming issues with renewable
energy," said Gerlach Principal Carol Kaufmann, adding that she is
working with the Desert Research Institute in Reno to incorporate the
solar project into their science curriculum.
"Because Gerlach is somewhat isolated, it is difficult to provide the
students with the same opportunities afforded to students in other
parts of Washoe County," Kaufmann said. "That's another reason why
this is a great opportunity for us."
Tuesday's event will also premiere the Burning Man organization's
plans, through the Black Rock Solar project, to install several more
solar projects in northern Nevada in cooperation with Sierra Pacific
and the SolarGenerations program. Rebates for schools and public
buildings participating in the program amount to $5 per watt of
installed solar energy.
"Our goal is to build low or no cost solar systems for communities
that otherwise might not develop them, and to build high-profile
projects that help speed the adoption of solar energy in Nevada,"
added Tom Price with Black Rock Solar.
Project costs will be partially offset by a $450,000 rebate provided
through the SolarGenerations program established by the Nevada State
Legislature in 2003 to encourage Nevadans to install solar energy. The
program is administered by Sierra Pacific Power in northern Nevada and
Nevada Power Company in Las Vegas. "Thanks to our State Legislature
and the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, our state has one of
the most aggressive programs in the nation to encourage solar energy,"
Sierra Pacific Program Manager John Hargrove said. "We are excited to
join with Black Rock Solar in helping schools and public facilities to
go green and save money on their energy bills."
Engineering expertise and labor for the Gerlach project was provided
free of charge by Black Rock Solar, a nonprofit project of Black Rock
City, LLC, which produces the annual Burning Man event in the Black
Rock Desert north of Gerlach, and by Brooks Engineering, one of the
leading experts in PV system design.
MMA Renewable Ventures, a leading clean energy project finance firm,
provided the solar electric equipment. The Gerlach solar energy system
celebration follows on today's dedication ceremony for another MMA
Renewable Ventures project in Nevada, a 14-megawatt system at Nellis
Air Force Base that is now the largest photovoltaic array in North
America.
"This collaboration for solar energy in Gerlach is an extension of our
philosophy that renewable energy should be cost effective and
accessible to all in this country, from the largest corporations to
the smallest rural towns," said Matt Cheney, CEO of MMA Renewable
Ventures. "We are proud to be helping the community with a reliable
source of clean energy and helping Gerlach's schools focus their
resources on their children."
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Tuesday December 18, 2007, at noon, 555 East
Sunset Boulevard in Gerlach. Images and video available upon request.
About Burning Man
The annual art event known as Burning Man, which began on a beach in
San Francisco in 1986, has grown to attract more than 47,000
participants annually, from every state of the Union and twenty-two
countries worldwide. For the last seventeen years, the increasingly
popular and influential event has been held in the Black Rock Desert
outside of Reno, Nevada. Based on corporate accounting and participant
survey data, it is estimated that Burning Man contributes almost $20
million annually to the northern Nevada economy. For more information,
visit www.burningman.com.
About MMA Renewable Ventures
A subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC "MuniMae," (NYSE:
MMA), MMA Renewable Ventures finances, owns and operates renewable
energy and energy efficiency assets in the United States. The Company
provides leases, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and other customized
financial solutions to help its customers manage energy costs. MMA
Renewable Ventures is dedicated to delivering competitively priced,
clean energy and energy savings to customers, strong partnership
options for project developers, and exceptional opportunities for
institutional investment in the clean energy sector. For more
information about MMA Renewable Ventures, visit www.mmarenewableventures.com.
About Sierra Pacific Power
Headquartered in Reno, Nevada, Sierra Pacific Power Company is the
principal utility for most of northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area
of California. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sierra Pacific
Resources (NYSE: SRP), which also is the holding company for Nevada
Power Company, the electric utility for southern Nevada. Sierra
Pacific Power also distributes natural gas in the Reno-Sparks area of
northern Nevada. For more information, visit www.sierrapacific.com.
About Black Rock Solar
Black Rock Solar is a non-profit project of the Burning Man community,
focused on addressing climate change and speeding the adoption curve
of renewable energy. By installing renewable energy at low or no cost,
Black Rock Solar puts much needed funds in the hands of communities
typically not served by the renewable energy industry, who then get to
decide how to best meet their own needs. Along the way, Black Rock
Solar creates educational opportunities for volunteers and
beneficiaries, and sponsor training to broaden the solar power
industry. Future projects will also include installation art that
explore these themes. For more information visit www.blackrocksolar.org.
http://www.earthtoys.com/news.php?section=view&id=3600
=============
DON'T MOURN, ACT! WEBSITES FOR ACTION:
http://www.earthshare.org/get_involved/involved.html
http://www.greenhousenet.org/
http://www.solarcatalyst.com/
http://www.campaignearth.org/buy_green_nativeenergy.asp
Overview and local actions you can take: http://www.PostCarbon.org
=============
= = = =
STILL FEELING LIKE THE MAINSTREAM U.S. CORPORATE MEDIA
IS GIVING A FULL HONEST PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON?
= = = =
Daily online radio show, news reporting: www.DemocracyNow.org
More news: UseNet's misc.activism.progressive (moderated)
= = = =
Sorry, we cannot read/reply to most usenet posts but welcome email
For more information: http://EconomicDemocracy.org/wtc/ (peace)
And http://EconomicDemocracy.org/ (general)
Email Note: "info" and "map" etc DON'T work. Now:
econdemocracy(at)gmail
