Las Vegas, NV Energy enter three-year solar deal

City leaders on Tuesday announced a three-year deal with NV Energy they hope will see every city-owned streetlight, park, community center, fire station and public building powered by renewable energy by 2017.

If approved by the Nevada Public Utilities Commission and the City Council, that agreement would use a 100-megawatt solar plant planned near Boulder City to support the city’s push to go green.

Officials said they couldn’t put a firm number on projected savings associated with the clean transition.

They expect expanded “conservation measures” — think parking garage solar panels and more efficient LED light bulbs — will more than make up for an estimated $228,000 in annual costs tied to the move.

City Council members on Monday said they were under the impression the deal was meant to save taxpayers some of the $20 million Las Vegas shells out annually to keep the lights on at city facilities.

They did not rule out the possibility of ditching the state’s largest power provider, a move that would land Las Vegas on a growing list of big, disgruntled NV Energy customers — including Wynn Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International and Las Vegas Sands Corp. — looking to leave the company.

City Manager Betsy Fretwell said utility costs will be discussed on an ongoing basis for the duration of the city’s newly announced clean energy deal, one she said buys the city time to formulate a long-term plan.

“What we see now could look very different three years from now,” Fretwell said of the deal. “Or it could look very much the same.

“We’re hoping for even more competitive pricing a year from now.”

Mayor Carolyn Goodman said she understood the deal as more of a means to “realign” utility costs on the city’s balance sheet.

In her view, the move counts as a win for taxpayers and the environment, not to mention a public relations coup for the city.

“I’ve been told this action will make our city the first city of our size in the world to achieve 100 percent renewable energy for city operations,” Goodman said. “We’re going to save this world, so that many more can come.”

City leaders could approve the move as soon as Dec. 2.

Contact James DeHaven at jdehaven@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3839. Find him on Twitter: @JamesDeHaven