Solar arrays bring CCSD $6.25 million

By Paul Takahashi

Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011 | 10:17 p.m.

The Clark County School District on Thursday received NV Energy’s largest rebate check – $6.25 million – after installing solar panels at 25 schools.

The cash-strapped district approved the rooftop photovoltaic systems at select schools in January to save energy costs and shift more money into classrooms. The solar arrays will save the district about $250,000 per year for the next 20 to 25 years, according to Paul Gerner, associate superintendent of facilities.

The installations were done at no cost to the School District, thanks to NV Energy’s energy rebate program and a portion of the $1.4 million in federal funding provided to Nevada to support renewable energy projects.

“We purchase renewable systems when doing so will save us money,” Gerner said. “This is an unequivocal winner for CCSD and our long-term costs.”

NV Energy President and CEO Michael Yackira presented the check to School Board members Thursday night.

The check is the third rebate given to the School District by NV Energy, which has given $7.3 million to the district since 2004 for solar installations at schools, Yackira said.

“Not only does this improve the environment, it improves the budget issues we all know exist in our state and specifically CCSD,” he said.

The 25 schools with new solar panels are: Carl, Ries, Bailey, Batterman, Conners Dickens, Forbuss, Givens, Goolsby, Hummel, Roundy,Scherkenbach, Smalley, Thompson, NWCTA, Bozarth, Diaz, Fine, O'Roarke, Reedom, Schorr, Scott, Steele, Taylor and Wright.