Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada
Combining several different solutions – maximizing savings, leveraging incentives and partnering with investors – helped CCSN transition its entire campus to solar energy.
Combining a 541.8 kW DC aggregate rooftop solar system with comprehensive LED-lighting upgrades and new TPO roof.
A fixed annual price escalator locked in by their Power Purchase Agreement is insulating CCSN from recent inflation in Nevada Energy’s cost of electricity (just over 21% increase since 2021).
Annual energy cost savings afforded by the solar electricity rate enhances CCSN’s work, such as food and meal services, homeless shelter and housing support, assistance to immigrants and refugees, and family services.
Project Summary
Organization: Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada (CCSN)
Location: Rooftops of CCSN’s Administrative Building, Dining Hall, and St. Vincent Apartments in Las Vegas, NV
CHALLENGE
Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada (CCSN) is one of the state’s largest providers of social services. Every day it serves more than 4,500 people through more than a dozen programs, including emergency shelters and Meals on Wheels. CCSN was interested in transitioning to solar energy, but they were concerned that the cost of major capital repairs, including roof replacements, would make the transition prohibitive.
ANALYSIS
During the first meeting, CCSN identified additional challenges facing the organization’s Las Vegas campus: rising energy costs and poor lighting in several facilities, including the emergency shelter and community service center. As part of Mission Energy’s eight-point consultation process, staff reviewed CCSN’s energy bills, analyzed the site and facilities, and created financial and project design models for CCSN’s consideration.
STRATEGY
• Completed a site review, reviewed energy data, and presented a step-by-step program.
• Identified and secured state and utility company financial incentives and bundled the costs of roof replacement, LED, and solar to increase savings.
• Evaluated investors, secured partnerships, and coordinated negotiating a Power Purchase Agreement to finance the project.
• Managed a comprehensive LED retrofit and roof replacement along with solar installation to address aging roofs and poor lighting.
RESULTS
• Reduction in facility energy costs, with a locked in solar energy cost rate protecting CCSN against local utility energy cost spikes.
• The installed solar system is estimated to produce 846,000 kWh per year.
• The new system saves approximately 651 tons of carbon dioxide per year.
This is equivalent to:
• Planting and growing 9,772 trees for 10 years
• Removing 141 gasoline-powered vehicles from the road each year
• Providing electricity for 117 homes for a year
DOWNLOADS
• Click here to download a two-page .pdf of this project case study/summary
