
Las Vegas Strip goes solar
26 June 2021/ MGM Resorts launches 100MW solar array in the desert of Nevada, accounting for a very significant portion of the total electricity used by its 13 properties in Las Vegas /
Il 2020 è stato l’anno che ha cambiato il turismo. Se è vero che sono stati molti i settori a risentire della pandemia e
As from July, turning on the light or air conditioning in the hotel rooms of some of the most renowned Las Vegas resorts as well as playing their slot machines will be somewhat different. Do you know why? Much of the electricity used by MGM Resorts International resorts on The Strip now comes from a 100-megawatt solar plant installed in the Nevada desert, where there is plenty of sunshine.
Located about 45 minutes from Las Vegas, MGM Resorts Mega Solar Array started commercial operations on June 28. It comprises 323,000 solar panels arranged across almost 260ha, producing up to 90% of MGM Resorts’ Las Vegas daytime power needs, spanning over 6 million square meters of buildings across 13 properties and more than 36,000 rooms on The Strip, including Bellagio, ARIA, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand and The Mirage, among others. The electricity production is equivalent to the amount of power used by approximately 27,000 average U.S. homes annually.
The new solar farm, which is the largest solar array in the world for a hospitality company, was developed in partnership with Invenergy – a leading privately held developer and operator of sustainable energy solutions – and structured through a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). In early 2021, Invenergy sold a 75% stake in the project to a firm controlled by American Electric Power, one of the largest electric companies in the USA.
“With MGM Resorts’ significant scale and resources, we’re positioned to make a meaningful difference in the fight against climate change, and we recognize our responsibility to build a more environmentally sustainable future,” said Bill Hornbuckle, CEO and President, MGM Resorts at the launch ceremony. “Today we’re marking a significant step forward in our environmental sustainability initiatives in Las Vegas and our long-term vision to protect the planet and achieve an enduring, positive impact in our communities worldwide.”
The Mega Solar Array significantly accelerates progress toward MGM Resorts’ 2025 goal to reduce…
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