Air Force Gets Green Light on Solar Power

The U.S. Air Force says Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada will be solar powered by the end of this year.

Maj. Don Ohlemacher, operations flight chief and acting commander of the 99th Civil Engineer Squadron at the base, told USA Today that the military’s embrace of solar technology shows solar energy can effectively meet part of the country’s energy needs.

It allows the Air Force to show its leadership in applying renewable energy and new technology to reduce our needs to use traditional forms of electric power, he said.

The base will devote 140 acres to a solar power plant that will be capable of producing 15 megawatts of power, enough to provide 30 percent of the electric needs on the base.

The Air Force expects to save $1 million a year in lower electric bills, the newspaper said.