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Black Rock Solar

CAE1702

Summary Note

Black Rock Solar was an outgrowth of the 2007 “Green Man” Burning Man event. It grew into a 501(c)3 nonprofit, tax-exempt organization until its demise in 2017. Materials include organizational papers, press, posters, banners, digital images, and other ephemera.

Biographical Note

Black Rock Solar was a 501(c)3 nonprofit, tax-exempt organization and had a small office in Reno with several staff people. It was governed by a board of directors with Marian Goodell as the Burning Man Founder sitting on the board as a liaison to the larger organization.

Scope and Content

Black Rock Solar was an outgrowth of the 2007 Burning Man event, the theme for which that year was The Green Man. It grew into a 501(c)3 nonprofit, tax-exempt organization and from 2007 until its demise in 2017 installed 6600 kilowatts of power through 100 projects with nearby tribal groups, schools, communities of need, and other nonprofits. Its goal was to promote environmental stewardship, economic development and energy independence by providing small-scale clean energy sources (solar installations), education, and job training. They also funded solar-powered art projects that were built in Black Rock City during various Burning Man years. Notable installations that demonstrate the variety of their partners include solar panel arrays at the Paiute Indian cultural center in Nixon at Pyramid Lake, the tribal school at Wadsworth, the Great Basin College in Elko, the Nature Conservancy’s facility at Independence Lake, CA and the Southern Nevada College in Henderson, southern Nevada. Materials include organizational papers, press, posters, banners, digital images, and other ephemera.

Arrangement

The archive Black Rock Solar is organized into two series. Series 1 contains materials about the organization, while Series 2 contains specific project materials.
  • Series 1: Organizational Materials
  • Series 2: Projects

Inclusive Dates

2005-2017

Bulk Dates

2007-2013

Quantity / Extent

.75 cubic feet

Language

English

Related Archive Collections

  • CAE1305: Michael Mikel: Burning Man

Container Listing by Series:

CAE1702/1 Series 1: Organizational Materials, 2007-2015

Series 1 contains organizational material including Board of Director materials and promotional ephemera.

Additional Materials

  • CAE Box 119 Objects

    • 1-3#22 Save Energy: Don’t be a Dud, Remember to Unplug!, Plaque, not dated
    • 1-3#23 Save Energy: Leaving on the Lights is Such a Turn Off!, Plaque, not dated

  • CAE Box 135 Large Objects

    • 1-4#5 Powered by Black Rock Solar, Sign, 2007

  • CAE Box 139 Objects

    • 1-3#24 100 Solar Arrays, August 2007 – September 2015, T-Shirt, 2015

  • CAE Flat File F20 Oversized Items

    • 1-3#27 Washoe Tribe Buildings Powered by the Sun (Carson), Poster, July 2015
    • 1-3#28 Washoe Tribe Buildings Powered by the Sun, Poster, July 2015

  • CAE S-Box 24

    • 1-3#25 Black Rock Solar: Free the Sun, Poster, June 2013
    • 1-3#26 To Make A Big Change, Take a Million Small Steps, Poster, August 2010

  • Textile Rack Oversized Items

    • 1-3#29 Black Rock Solar: Free the Sun, Banner, 2013
    • 1-3#30 Black Rock Solar: Mad Props, Banner, 2013
    • 1-3#31 The Reno Star, Banner, 2013
    • 1-3#32 Yerington Sundial, Banner, 2012

CAE1702/2 Series 2: Projects, 2005-2017

Series 2 contain materials related to select solar installations throughout the state of Nevada.

Additional Materials

  • CAE Flat File F2 Oversized Items

    • 2-3#21a Gerlach School & E.M. Johnson Elementary Site Plan C-1, March 2005
    • 2-3#21b Gerlach School & E.M. Johnson Elementary Site Plan C-1 (with additional markings), March 2005

  • CAE S-Box 24

    • 2-3#20a Gerlach Schools Project Cover Sheet G0.1, Drawing, August 2007
    • 2-3#20b Gerlach Schools Project Site Plan Sheet G0.2, Drawing, August 2007
    • 2-3#20c Gerlach Schools Project 30 KW Photovoltaic System Array Layouts E1.1, Drawing, August 2007
    • 2-3#20d Gerlach Schools Project 30 KW Photovoltaic System Overall 1-Line Electrical Diagram E1.2, Drawing, August 2007
    • 2-3#20e Gerlach Schools Project Note s for 30 KW Photovoltaic System Overall 1-Line Electrical Diagram E1.3, Drawing, August 2007
    • 2-3#20f Gerlach Schools Project Foundation Plan S1.1, Drawing, August 2007
    • 2-3#20g Gerlach Schools Project Set of Three 30 KW Photovoltaic System Conduit Layout E1.9 (Copy 1 with notes), Drawing, August 2007
    • 2-3#20h Gerlach Schools Project Set of Three 30 KW Photovoltaic System Conduit Layout E1.9 (Copy 2 with notes), Drawing, August 2007