The newly created partnership that won a contract to build 1.3 megawatts of solar photovoltaic generation projects for the City of Reno has its eye on a much larger prize.
Nevada Solar Works LLC a partnership of Q&D Construction, CleanPath Renewables and Alternative Energy Solutions hopes to win at least a piece of a big contract to develop solar projects at 55 state and local facilities in Nevada.
Spurring the development is a new state law that allows investor-financed renewable projects on state and local government properties.
Participating agencies contract to purchase some or all of the power, which allows them to lock in the price they pay for energy. Developers also generate revenues through rebates from NV Energy and federal tax incentives.
The City of Reno solar project is the first to take advantage of the new state law.
The project includes one big solar array a one-megawatt, ground-mounted system at the Reno-Stead Water Treatment Plant along with smaller installations at five city-owned properties around the city. Construction is scheduled to begin in October.
For Q&D Construction, installation of solar facilities creates a stream of revenue that helps the company weather the economic storms.
"In these times, you really need to diversify," says Tim Kretzschmar, a senior vice president of the company headquartered in Sparks.
CleanPath Renewables, which has offices in Reno and San Francisco, is the development and construction arm of CleanPath Ventures, a privately held San Francisco company that finances and develops large-scale renewable projects.
Several of the key executives of CleanPath come from the ranks of Black Rock Solar, a nonprofit that links the Burning Man Project, researchers and utilities on educational programs and solar installations.
Joe Pizur, the founder of Alternative Energy Solutions, also has worked as photovoltaic supervisor for Black Rock Solar projects.
And Q&D Construction has worked with Black Rock Solar on installations at the Nevada Discovery Museum and Bishop Manogue High School.
Scott Gerz, director of business development
at CleanPath Renewables, said Nevada Solar Works LLC now is working to meet the call for the Nevada State Energy Office for proposals development of solar facilities across the state.
The state wants proposals to develop solar generation at facilities ranging from the Department of Agriculture offices in Sparks to the Highway Patrol office on Kietzke Lane and the prison at Lovelock.
The City of Las Vegas also has listed 10 possible sites for solar development in the state's request for proposals.
Jim Groth, director of the office of energy, said the request for proposals is currently one of the biggest potential solar jobs in the nation.
