Las Vegas Nevada Now Powered by Renewable Energy

All Las Vegas city facilities, from government buildings to streetlights, are now running entirely on renewable energy, city officials have announced.

“We can brag that the city, this city of Las Vegas, is one of the few cities in the entire world that can boast of using all of its power from a green source,” Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said in a news conference Monday.

The achievement marks the completion of the city’s nearly decade-long goal to fully transition to clean energy ― a project that was expedited after the city partnered with public utility company NV Energy almost a year ago. While all government facilities are now powered by renewable energy, many residential and commercial buildings are not.

Officials were able to make the announcement after Boulder Solar 1, NV Energy’s massive solar array in the southeast corner of Nevada, went on line last week.

Boulder Solar 1, combined with other local sources of green energy like solar panels placed throughout the city and geothermal energy plants, will now provide 100 percent of the city’s municipal power.  BootheGlobalPerspectives has been calling on cities to covert to renewable energy for more than 10 years. "Every city, every restaurant, every hotel, every hospital and prison should be powered by solar, wind or some kind of renewable energy," said Ben Boothe of Boothe Companies.

The shift to renewable energy started in 2008 and has since saved the city roughly $5 million annually and decreased energy consumption by more than 30 percent, reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Las Vegas, now the largest U.S. city to rely solely on renewable energy, is helping pave the way for other cities eager to transition to carbon-free energy despite an incoming presidential administration with a record of pushing back on progressive environmental policies.

Last month, 48 mayors signed an open letter to President-elect Donald Trump pledging to take climate action within their cities even if the federal government refuses to support their plans.

The letter reads:

"Each of our cities is committing to ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, set climate action, regularly report on our progress, share lessons and hold each other accountable. ...
As president, you will have the power to expand and accelerate these local initiatives which the people resoundingly supported. ...

"We ask that you lead us in expanding the renewable energy sources we need to achieve energy security, address climate change and spark a new manufacturing, energy and construction boom in America.

San Francisco; San Jose, California; and Grand Rapids, Michigan are just a few of the big cities committing to use 100 percent renewable energy by 2035.

Editors note: This article and headline have been updated to note that Las Vegas's renewable energy powers government facilities, not all personal or commercial entities.