Brandon Ralph McBride: Solar Energy For Nevada

Brandon Ralph McBride: Solar Energy For Nevada Brandon Ralph McBride is an advocate of solar energy. He lives and works in Las Vegas, Nevada, one of the sunniest places in the United States, and says that his state is an excellent candidate for becoming a leader in the solar energy industry.

Before he began his current job as a consultant at Middle Ground Consulting, LLC in Las Vegas, he worked for a small Las Vegas company installing solar panels on homes.

"There are some great benefits to going solar," he says. "I was never a sales guy, but I still know the company pitch. And I still believe it. The best thing about solar energy, from the point of view of your pocketbook, is that you'll see an immediate savings on your electric bill. And I mean from Day One. No matter the size of your installation, you'll get a smaller monthly bill right away."

Brandon Ralph McBride says that solar energy systems are modular, meaning that users can install as many solar panels as they like, and whenever they would like to.

More solar panels means more savings, and if your solar panel array is big enough, then it is possible, he says, to reduce your energy bill down to nothing. "A lot of people are already doing just that," he says. "And the savings grow over time, no matter the size of the installation."

Another benefit of solar energy that can result in savings for customers is the Energy Star program. "This is a Federal government program that gives tax breaks for solar hot water heaters and photovoltaic systems, among other things," Brandon Ralph McBride says. "Other green products are under it, too.

Nevada is especially good for solar energy production, says Brandon Ralph McBride, because it is so sunny. "We get something like 250 sun days, on average, every single year. That's an incredible resource, the best in the country." It is already being taken advantage of, and in a major way. "The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System went online in 2013. It's the largest solar thermal power plant in the world, and it's delivering power to PG&E and Southern California Edison." He says that the Ivanpah facility represents the dawn of a new era in solar energy.

Developing Nevada's solar energy resources can end up being a powerful economic resource in the state, Brandon Ralph McBride says, and he is anxious to see the industry develop to the next level. He points to a UNLV study that estimated that by generating just seven percent of the electricity for the state would create more than 2,500 jobs, and generate more than three hundred million dollars in revenue every year.

"Those are solid numbers, and I hope that lawmakers make it happen, because this is something that is really important to our future."