Solar studies arrive at right time - News

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Aug. 18, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Solar studies arrive at right time

UNLV's new minor raises environmental interests

By RICHARD LAKE
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Renewable Energy

Solar panels collect the sun's energy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Monday. The university is offering a minor in solar and renewable energy starting this fall.
Photo by John Gurzinski.

The bandwagon is green, and Caryn Wright just jumped on it.

Wright, 30, is an environmental studies major at UNLV. She's passionate about environmental issues.

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"It's really the only major that spoke to me," she said.

She wants to go into consulting, wherein companies hire her to help them figure out how to navigate all the environmental regulations with which they often have to contend.

So, which minor to pick? Political science? Business?

Nothing seemed quite right.

Which was why it was perfect timing when the University of Nevada, Las Vegas announced it was adding a minor in solar and renewable energy this fall. Perfect.

"It'll really complement my major," said Wright, the first student of about 20 so far who have signed up for the minor. "They'll go hand in hand."

Tom Piechota, UNLV's director of sustainability and multidisciplinary research, said a $500,000 gift from NV Energy got the minor off the ground. The money will be used to finance the program, including scholarships, research, equipment and internships, school officials said.

"Southern Nevada is the epicenter right now of solar interest," said Tony F. Sanchez, NV Energy's senior vice president of public policy and external relations.

He said the company funded a similar program at the University of Nevada, Reno a couple of years ago, and it has been a big success. He noted that NV Energy expects to need workers skilled in renewable energy in the future. So providing shareholder money to help train them seems to be a no-brainer.

Piechota said he found only about a dozen universities (including UNR) offering this or a similar minor. UNLV is perfectly suited for it because of its southwestern location and what many see as the potential growth in sustainable technology in coming years.

There is great interest at UNLV and in the region in general in renewable energy, as evidenced by last week's National Clean Energy Summit at the university.

Any student can sign up for the minor. It will have two areas of focus: policy or engineering and science.

Piechota said he's gotten inquiries from students in business, the hotel college, engineering, architecture, environmental studies and others. Many want to broaden their resumes by showcasing that they've been trained in what's seen as a growing field.

"I think adding on to your core degree can make that degree even more valuable," he said.

Wright, the environmental student, intends to focus on policy. She figures it'll give her an edge in the job market when she gets there.

Vik Sehdev also wants an edge. He graduated from UNLV in engineering this past spring. He tested the job market, found it unkind, and decided to go back for his graduate degree now rather than waiting a few years, as was the original plan.

He'll be focusing on construction for his master's degree -- but he'll also be helping out as a graduate assistant in the new renewable energy minor and doing research in that area.

"I wish they'd had this when I was an undergrad because of the huge push in the industry," said Sehdev, 23. "We're seeing things we've never seen before."

Soon, he said, there will be a great need for engineers and policymakers who understand solar and renewable energy issues.

Those poised to take advantage of that need will be in the best position for the best jobs, he figures. Combine that training with his construction engineering know-how and he thinks he'll be good to go as soon as he gets his master's degree.

Contact reporter Richard Lake at rlake@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0307.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Wow wrote on August 18, 2009 06:25 PM: "Tom Piechota, UNLV's director of sustainability and multidisciplinary research, said a $500,000 gift from NV Energy got the minor off the ground. The money will be used to finance the program, including scholarships, research, equipment and internships, school officials said." I'm glad my power bill is going up 10% to help cover the expense of a 'gift' so these kids can learn something. SolarSucks wrote on August 18, 2009 05:51 PM: "Solar Studies" screams "Federal Grant" funded by the taxpayer. There are only a few remaining taxpayers left and do we need yet another solar study? NO, of course not: NO. Drill for good ol' USA oil, on and off-shore. And... as previously suggested... what is wrong with Hoover Dam water power, it's as green as it gets. Why doesn' the RJ mention that solar only works during the day and then at best it produces 12 volts. No one uses 12 volts, not even the printing presses at the RJ. James Bond wrote on August 18, 2009 03:49 PM: If companies and individuals want to purchase these solar panels (even at $20,000 a pop), so be it. Some people out there CARE more about how we leave our planet to our children and their children's children even if it costs money. And what is Money. Its just paper that the government prints and gives to people to build this stuff. If you die with money in the bank, your a fool. Spend it on stuff that makes the world a little better or spend it on hookers. Either way, spend it. Brian S. wrote on August 18, 2009 03:36 PM: I do work in the industry and they do need to be replaced either from preventative maintenance or corrective maintenance. The truth is that once in place you are going to have a certain amount of cost to keep the projects up and running. These cost (as long as inflation doesn't explode) are going to be well below the wattage and revenue produced. These programs make good sense but in conjunction with other projects like geothermal plants. Still oil, coal, and natural gas are the best options for energy. Tony wrote on August 18, 2009 02:38 PM: "They all wear out and have to be replaced within 20 years" Its clear you don't work in the industry, or know a single thing about it. There is a study from Europe that has 21 year old panels - the per panel output has only degraded by 0.2%/yr, and the entire array was down 15% (still less than 1%/yr foretasted in solar cost estimates). http://www.isaac.supsi.ch/ISAAC/Pubblicazioni/Fotovoltaico/Conferences/Osaka%20%28Japan%29%20-%203rd%20WPVSEC%20-%20May%202003/s5o-c9-03%20analysis%20of%20weathered%20c-si%20pv%20modules.pdf But hey, don't let science and facts get in the way of your talking points and WHARRGARBL. br wrote on August 18, 2009 02:38 PM: Common Sense Good points. You get better deals from a pay day loan shop. Common Sense wrote on August 18, 2009 11:59 AM: Oil is natural energy. So is natural gas -- hence the name. We're correct to call solar and wind energy "renewable," since we'll perpetually have to renew our budgets to pay for them. How about we call them "Expensive Energy." Tom, Burbank wrote on August 18, 2009 11:43 AM: What is renewable energy? Not the sun. How do we renew the sun? We don't shovel more coal into that boiler. The sun will just keep burning until it finally fizzles out. We can neither deplete nor renew the sun. Not wind. We can't renew wind, it just happens. Naturally. We can't recharge it like a dustbuster. Not currents or surf. They happen naturally and we cannot control them. Hmmm, there's that word 'naturally' again. Maybe we're onto something here. Maybe, just maybe, we should be calling it natural energy, because it's all... natural! George wrote on August 18, 2009 11:22 AM: Sorry folks but there's nothing like good old fashioned carbon fuels. Nothing is going to give you the same BTU's for the bang. Too bad we are running out of the stuff... The other problem is that if we do build giant solar farms (that just might break even after 10 years in service) has anyone thought about how we would get the energy to market? Our national electrical grid is 1950's technology and could never handle the extra load. nut wrote on August 18, 2009 10:38 AM: What is it to you where and how I build my house? What about size? If you limit the size and color of my home you could save energy, kids use energy better limit them. It is one thing to know and suggest a optimal building it is another to force it on people which is what the government answer will always do perhaps you design affordable solar and let the free market decide, i need more than a 30 year pay back. PS I use ALgore as the standard, i use less power than he does so i'm green Read All Comments