LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
More than 15,000 ground-mounted solar panels now decorate the construction site near East Las Vegas Valley Drive and Tree Line Drive. They will be a new, efficient source for the City of Las Vegas' high-energy consumption.
"We use about a third of it in treating waste water, a third of it in lighting streets and a third in city buildings. That total energy spent is about $15 million a year," said Tom Perrigo with the City of Las Vegas.
The new $19.7 million facility is funded by the Sanitary Sewer Enterprise Fund and is one of a kind since it sits on 25 acres of land - one of the largest facilities in the western part of the country.
Solar power is no stranger to the City of Las Vegas. There are 28 city facilities that run off the sun's energy like city parks, recreation centers, fire stations and the new City Hall building. The solar trees and panels on the roof produce about 20 percent of the building's energy.
"We are providing power for city facilities during the peak power time - between the hours of 1 and 7 in the afternoon in the summer months - when everyone needs a lot of energy for air conditioning in their buildings. We are relieving some of that load," said Perrigo.
The solar facility is also expected to help reduce some of the energy powering the Water Pollution Control Facility next door.
City officials expect the project to be completed by the end of the year.
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