Las Vegas is analyzing a new energetic plan that will reduce its energy consumption and allow the city to produce electricity with solar power, according to an announcement made this week, the city of Las Vegas is currently working on a new multi million plan funded mostly by federal stimulus money to put solar panels on the top of carports at city buildings as part of an effort to reduce the city's electrical costs. The new project could save the city’s more hundreds of thousands of dollars in electrical costs every year once the plan is fully in place.

The first stage of the plan will start with three sets of solar panels. Construction on the first of the three installations, at the new StupakCommunity Center near the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino, is scheduled to start in 2010. The panels will provide between 1/10 to 1/3 of the building's energy consumption, depending on the demand and the capacity of each solar panel.

Last Monday, NextLight Renewable Power, a California developer of alternative energy, announced that it has applied for permits to build two solar plants in Nevada. Two planned solar stations in Nevada could be among the first renewable-energy plants in the U.S.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar attended the announcement made at the University of Nevada, in Las Vegas. Reid said it's time to dedicate public lands to generate sustainable and renewable energy and called Nevada the "Saudi Arabia" of solar energy.

"We hear a lot about doing something for the environment. That's what this is all about. Today, we will use 21 million barrels of oil in the United States. We want to back that off. We are not a secure nation as long as we're importing oil." Reid said.