Boulder City Tapping Into Solar Power for Revenue

The small Nevada town of Boulder City can thanks it's representatives for making good deals with solar power providers. City Manager Vicki Mayes says that in the future the city will generate $12 million a year in lease payments alone. Projects in planning stage now will produce revenue for Boulder City for years to come.

The city made sure the solar companies paid large upfront payments during the two to four year construction period. Through the life of the lease contracts the city will collect upwards of $480 million dollars which will generate needed revenue and help pay off debts.

Boulder City attracts the attention of solar companies because of it's constantly sunny climate (300 sunny days a year) and already available transmission lines.

The leases between Boulder City and the solar providers range in the 40 to 50 year range and will also provide property tax revenue.

A couple of the photovoltaic projects that have begun operation are already among the largest in the nation.

City council members are congratulating each other on their ahead-of-the-pack pro-solar decisions that will benefit residents for years to come.

More details at Las Vegas Review-Journal.