SunPower Corp. will build a $50 million Nellis Solar Array II that will be owned by NV Energy on land leased from the Air Force in the southwest part of the base. Combined with the first array SunPower built in 2007 — a 13.2-megawatt solar plant — the two will power base facilities exclusively on the sun’s renewable energy during daylight hours.
Â
“This is a great day for Nellis Air Force Base,” 99th Air Base Wing commander Col. Richard Boutwell told a gathering of company officials and Air Force leaders at a groundbraking event. “When this solar array is online, combined with our first solar array, Nellis will be host to the largest solar photonics system in the Department of Defense.”
Â
He added that this project “also has a component that will increase our ability to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace. “¦ What this means to Nellis is that we will have power assurety, along with increased reliability and flexibility to support the largest and the most demanding advanced air combat training facility in the world.”