The Moapa Band of Paiute Indians in Nevada won approval from the Interior Department to build a large-scale solar power plant on the reservation.

The 350-megawatt solar plant will be located on 2,000 acres of the reservation. It will be capable of supplying power to up to 100,000 homes.

“This trailblazing project is part of the President’s commitment to help build strong, sustainable tribal communities by supporting safe and responsible renewable energy development,” Interior Secretary Salazar said in a press release. “Tribal lands hold great renewable energy potential, and smart development of these resources has the power to strengthen tribal economies, create jobs and generate clean electricity for communities across Indian Country."

The solar plant will connect to the NV Energy network, according to a fact sheet for the project. The tribe is currently opposing an expansion of the utility's coal-fired Reid Gardner power plant, citing pollution from the facility.

NV Energy has no plans at this time to buy solar energy from the tribe, The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

Get the Story:
Feds OK 1st major solar plant on tribal land; project planned for reservation outside Vegas (AP 6/21)
Feds Announce 1st Major Solar Plant on Tribal Land (KLAS-TV 6/21)
Solar energy project approved on tribal land near Las Vegas (The Las Vegas Sun 6/21)
Solar plant approved on Paiute lands near Las Vegas (The Las Vegas Review-Journal 6/21)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Moapa Band deserves protection from power plant (05/09)
Moapa Band gets EPA hearing on power plant by reservation (5/3)
Moapa Band starts 50-mile walk to protest power plant (4/20)
Blog: Moapa Band battles pollution at coal-fired power plant (02/15)
William Anderson: Moapa Band deals with power plant pollution (12/05)
Moapa Band sues to stop expansion of landfill at power plant (10/11)