readiness and reduced and avoided needless costs,
eliminated waste, and promoted energy security.
Solar in Nevada
The Nevada National Guard broke ground in
March, 2010 on its $15 million Super Solar project de-
signed specifically to help stabilize the energy supply
for its training sites and readiness centers. The proj-
ect will produce 1.4 megawatts of solar power for the
Nevada Joint Force National Guard Headquarters in
Carson City and more than 1.5 megawatt combined
for two other sites in Las Vegas (NVARNG 2009).
The solar photovoltaic cell project is being built
with no state or federal money. Instead, a public-pri-
vate energy partnership, along with a power purchase
agreement between the Nevada ARNG and its utility
provider, enables the Guard to purchase energy for 20
years at a level price similar to what it pays now for
energy. Under the agreement, the solar equipment is
financed, built, owned, operated and maintained by
Sierra Nevada Corporation in partnership with NV
Energy (NVARNG 2009).
The abundant Nevada sun is expected to help the
solar project produce more power than the facilities
can use during the day, and enable the sale of excess
to NV Energy. The project presents an economically
viable way to energize facilities without using fos-
sil fuels, and is expected to save the Nevada Guard
$2.3 million in power costs over the 20-year life of the
agreement (NVARNG 2009).
Sludge disposal in Pennsylvania
State ARNGs also realize cost savings simply by
rethinking their mundane processes. Hauling away