Burning Man Brings Solar Power To Local Community

Burning Man, the annual party held in the desert of Northern Nevada celebrating radical self-reliance through equally radical self-expression has long been supportive of the local communities that put up with overwhelming yearly migration of some 40,000 participants.

And staying consistent with Burning Man’s informal ‘gift economy’ and last year’s theme of the “Green Man,” the event is putting it’s money where it’s mouth is and installing a 90-kilowatt solar system for the school system in Gerlach, a town just North of the event site.

Black Rock Solar is a non-profit project developed under the umbrella of the Burning Man community “focused on addressing climate change and speeding the adoption curve of renewable energy.”   The organization has already installed a 30-kilowatt system at a hospital in Lovelock, another neighboring city.

According to the press release:

By installing renewable energy at low or no cost, Black Rock Solar puts much needed funds in the hands of communities typically not served by the renewable energy industry, who then get to decide how to best meet their own needs. Along the way, Black Rock Solar creates educational opportunities for volunteers and beneficiaries, and sponsor training to broaden the solar power industry. Future projects will also include installation art that explore these themes.

Through a partnership with MMA Renewable Ventures and Nevada utility company Sierra Pacific Power, Black Rock Solar was able to provide all of the engineering expertise and labor and equipment for the Gerlach project completely free of charge.  The venture could ultimately provide as much as $20,000 a year in free power for the rural school.

Black Rock Solar