Sunny side up

Lovelock Elementary School in Pershing County can expect lower power bills this year. The school received a $356,170 rebate check on Sept. 22 from NV Energy’s SolarGenerations program. The check offsets the costs for the school’s newly erected solar panels, a 70 kilowatt system installed for free by the nonprofit Black Rock Solar. This is the 10th solar project the nonprofit has completed for schools, hospitals and other institutions in Nevada. BRS held a fundraiser in Reno last July for the school’s solar energy system. The system is expected to save the school district about $18,300 a year, or nearly $460,000 over the estimated 25-year life of the panels. The system also provides an opportunity for the school’s students to learn firsthand about solar and renewable energy.