Solar panels nearly nixed due to origins

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- The mayor of Las Vegas said he almost halted the dedication of a solar panel carport when he noticed a sample module was assembled in Mexico.

Mayor Oscar Goodman said the Thursday dedication of the solar carport, the first of a planned trio of ports at the Stupak Community Center, was nearly called off when he discovered the sample was assembled in Mexico, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Friday.

"When I saw that, I went nuts," he said. "I felt that that was totally unacceptable as far as our sustainability efforts in the United States."

However, Goodman said officials told him the panels themselves were made and assembled domestically.

"They promised me that it's all made, assembled here," Goodman said. "I'll take them at their word. If I find out differently, I'll personally go up there and rip them off."

The solar carports are planned to provide about 30 percent of the electricity to the Stupak Community Center.