A new 15MW solar power plant has been set operation at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada this week. Designed and constructed by SunPower, the 15MW Nellis Solar Array II Generation Station is the first large-scale solar resource owned by NV Energy. NV Energy will transmit and distribute solar power generated from the Station to the base and the company’s customers.

"We appreciate the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, Senator Reid, Governor Sandoval and others for their support of our efforts to reduce our dependency on coal-fired generation and to replace it with environmentally friendly renewable resources," said NV Energy President and CEO Paul Caudill.

The Nellis Solar Array II Generating Station is the first large-scale solar resource that is owned by NV Energy, and the 11th large-scale solar generating resource serving NV Energy customers. In addition, the plant is the second large-scale solar project operating on the base. The first was also built by SunPower, a 13.2MW solar field that has been operational since 2007.

"Increasingly, the U.S. military is relying on solar power to ensure a cost-effective, emission-free electricity supply for its operations," said Tom Werner, SunPower President and CEO. "We congratulate Nellis Air Force Base for its leading commitment to solar, and we are proud to partner with NV Energy on innovative large-scale solar projects like this one that deliver high-performance and long-term value for the utility and its customers."

SunPower constructed the plant by its Oasis® Power Plant Technology. On the other hand, NV Energy built a new adjacent substation and underground distribution lines to provide additional redundancy and electricity reliability at the Nellis Air Force Base.

SunPower and NV Energy are now constructing the 100MW Boulder Solar I solar project under a secured PPA. The 100MW-related PPA is followed by another PPA for the 50MW Boulder Solar II project, which has been approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.