Las Vegas’s city government is now powered by 100% renewable energy, and more cities will follow

SOURCE: QZ.COM


Ten years of effort finally paid off for Las Vegas this week when officials announced the city government will now be powered entirely by renewable energy. After a large solar array, Boulder Solar 1, came online on Dec. 12, the city was able to buy enough carbon-free electricity to power its 140 buildings, streetlights and other facilities. The power flows from a mix of solar panels and hydroelectric turbines including the Hoover Dam. The renewables, plus energy efficiency savings, are estimated to save the city roughly $5 million per year, reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Las Vegas is one of many cities pushing ahead with aggressive efforts to leave fossil fuels behind. The Vegas city council, after threatening to leave the grid entirely in 2015, struck a deal with NV Energy that would help the city get to 100% renewable. Casinos—including Wynn Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International and Las Vegas Sands Corp.—are now doing the same by installing acres of solar panels on their roofs, reports the Review-Journal.

READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE @ http://qz.com/867024/las-vegas-100-percent-renewable-energy/