Valley Electric Association will resume its solar hot water heating program after resolving a dispute with Nye County officials over permitting and inspection requirements.

VEA Marketing Manager Staci Behnke said about 15 systems have already been installed. She expects crews to resume installations after the short Thanksgiving holiday week.

About 800 VEA members have signed up for site visits to have their homes inspected for the program. During a three-day workshop at the Saddle West Casino, VEA said owners of a stick-built home would pay from $19.89 to $37.90 per month to pay off the equipment, depending on the size of their household but recoup from $20.89 to $45.11 per month in energy savings respectfully.

That equates to a savings of $1 per month for a smaller system with an 80-gallon hot water tank and a four-by-eight-foot solar collector to $7.21 for a larger one with a 120-gallon tank and two four-by-eight-foot solar collectors.

Nye County commissioners passed a resolution Nov. 3 expressing support for the program, waiving the permitting fees and directing county staff to assist VEA contractors in developing a streamlined inspection and self-certification program. VEA and county staff have since finalized the requirements.

Valley Electric Association Chief Executive Officer Tom Husted said in a prepared statement, "I believe this is a reflection of how the private sector and government can work together for the benefit of the community."

The agreement was finalized after angry words were exchanged between Husted and county officials. That came after a subcontractor who started installing the solar hot water heaters was informed by a building inspector on Oct. 26 he would have to obtain building permits and submit drawings.

Husted called a press conference the next morning to announce the suspension of the program and attacked county officials. Husted claimed VEA was informed previously by the county those requirements weren't needed. He claimed the regulations would have added $400 to the cost of each system, or $2 million for the whole program, making it unfeasible.

Nye County Chief Civil Deputy District Attorney Ron Kent wanted a hold harmless agreement so the county wasn't liable.

Nye County Nuclear Waste Projects Office Director Darrell Lacy said the general contractor, Laskowski Construction, will inspect each installation and provide a form to the county assuring them the work had been inspected.

The Pahrump Building and Safety Department will review the four different hot water solar heater systems being installed for the program, he said.

Bill Verbeck, director of the Pahrump Great Basin College campus, said a week-long class will begin Dec. 7 for 46 of the 153 applicants who applied for a training program to install the solar hot water heaters. That is expected to significantly increase the pace of installations. Another 25 applicants are still under review, Verbeck said.