Airports and air bases occupy lots of space, especially if they have crossing runways. The acreage consumed to protect the public from the long narrow strips of asphalt or concrete can be considerable. Making good use of the “waste” space might make airports more economically viable. Arizona’s Luke Air Force Base is planning to use its space to generate electricity through solar power, just as Nevada’s Nellis Air Force Base has since 2007. According to the Associated Press, the “Arizona Public Service Co. has announced plans for the largest solar installation on U.S. government property.” The 15-megawatt solar power plant will be 1 mW larger than the system at Nellis, and will be online by next summer. 52,000 tracking solar panels located on 101 acres on the Base will supply about 50 percent of the facility’s electrical needs, or the equivalent required for 3,750 Arizona homes. The project will create 550 jobs and remove 19,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, according to …
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