Published July 26, 2010

The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe in western Nevada is using the sun to generate much of the electricity for its high school, medical clinic, museum and other community buildings.

The tribe recently celebrated the completion of seven solar photovoltaic arrays installed in Nixon, a small community near the giant Pyramid Lake about 35 miles northeast of Reno, Nev.

At the dedication event, the tribe received a rebate of $1,355,000 from NV Energy as part of its SolarGenerations program. The solar arrays, including one in the shape of an arrowhead, were installed by the nonprofit organization Black Rock Solar.

The Pyramid Lake Paiute reservation is in a remote desert area. The tribe has about 2,250 enrolled members, and about 1,600 of them live on the reservation, where the median age is 22. The tribe's unemployment rate is about 44 percent, according to its website. Pyramid Lake, Nevada's largest natural lake, is the focus of much of the tribal economy, through fees for fishing, day use and camping. Some tribe members also manage cattle herds.

"The cost savings from these projects will definitely increase our ability to provide more services in other areas – language programs, our museum, parks and recreation and elder services. Those are areas we can focus on," said Mervin Wright, chairman of the Pyramid Lake Tribal Council, in a news release from NV Energy.

On sunny days, much of the electricity for the community's high school, health clinic, police station, museum and visitor center, and tribal headquarters will be generated by the solar PV systems, he said.

A total of 1,737 modules — more than one for every resident — were installed by Black Rock Solar over a period of months. At the suggestion of Wacan Waci Blindman, a tribal member who has become a licensed solar installer through working with Black Rock Solar, an 18.8-kilowatt array at the museum was configured in the shape of an arrowhead.

"Our tribe is concerned about the environment," said Ben Aleck, collections manager for the museum. "Traditional people's concept is to live in balance with our environment, Mother Earth. Solar energy fits into our way of looking at the world."

Three arrays capable of generating 195 kw were installed at the high school and a 30-kw array was installed at the clinic adjacent to another 30-kw array that Black Rock Solar installed in 2009. The nonprofit organization had installed a 60-kw array at Natchez Elementary School on the reservation in 2008.

"As part of these projects, we've also been training tribal members to work in this growing industry," said Tom Price, executive director of Black Rock Solar, which seeks to spread the adoption of solar energy and works with underserved communities. "We believe that a renewable energy economy can benefit all aspects of society, even small rural communities like Nixon. And the money they save can help support community programs in these trying economic times."

Mary Simmons, vice president of external affairs for NV Energy Inc., said, "The SolarGenerations program is the result of a strong commitment by the Nevada legislature and state utility regulators to make Nevada a leader in renewable energy. We're pleased that the Pyramid Lake tribe is able to take part in the program and to reduce their energy costs, and we're impressed by the efforts of Black Rock Solar to bring renewable energy to organizations that otherwise couldn't afford it."