Burning Man Brings Solar Power to Nevada Towns

Burning Man wants to improve the state it’s unique community celebrates in every year. The newly formed nonprofit Black Rock Solar plans to bring alternative energy to poverty-stricken communities in Nevada, and the reluctant older generations are willing to accept it.
CNET News writes:

The idea behind Black Rock Solar is to find worthy recipients for whom to donate fully installed solar arrays that can then provide a source of free power for years to come. Black Rock Solar is partnering with MMA Renewable Ventures and Nevada utility company Sierra Pacific Power to provide the labor, expertise, and equipment necessary to get the solar arrays on line.
MMA will donate the equipment, the costs of which will be largely offset by rebates available under Nevada law to public users of solar power.

So far Black Rock Solar has installed a 30-kilowatt array at a hospital in the town of Lovelock and just recently cut the ribbon on a 90-kilowatt system powering a Gerlach side-by-side elementary/middle/high school. The two communities neighbor the desert in which the annual Burning Man event is held every summer.

Burning Man committed to several activist causes over the years (including Hurricane Katrina relief effort) and has attempted to donate raised money to the communities of Nevada for some time now. Many of the weary-eyed townspeople were reluctant to align itself with Burning Man until now; however, perhaps only familiar with the rumors of drugged out, dance-prone, naked hippies stirring up loud electro-infused music through odd hours of the night.

“A lot of older people of our community…are real reticent about accepting (The Burning Man community)” Carol Kaufmann, principal of the school receiving solar power, tells CNET. “But as a whole, the community looks at it like, ‘Wow, this is a big change. You really are putting your money where your mouth is. You really do want to help the community.”

Burning Man members hope to spread the efforts to other small towns in similar financial depressions. Their commitment to clean, alternative energy has grown since last year’s festival theme—the “Green Man.”