Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

AF Solar Array

There’s good news and bad news at the Nellis Air Force Base just outside Las Vegas, Nevada. The good news is that the military has created the largest solar power plant in North America, a 140-acre, 15 megawatt facility that’s supposed to reduce energy costs for the base and surrounding community by $1 million a year. That’s a lot of oil, even at $100 a barrel! The Pentagon sees this base as the first step in involving private alternative energy companies to help fill the military’s needs. They already have a couple of large wind farms and some smaller solar plants at other bases in various parts of the country.

The bad news? They’re still considering supplementing their sustainable energy with small nuclear power plants. Hopefully, these will not get built. Dear Pentagon, don’t squander the gains you’re making to free the military from oil dependence by embracing nuclear power! Give solar and wind a fighting chance!

To read the full article in Wired magazine, click here.


Posted on Friday, November 2nd, 2007 at 4:03 pm | Tagged in Energy, Photovoltaics | posted by Dina

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