An attack on a solar array facility near Las Vegas threatened power to one of the city’s more popular casinos recently.
The MGM Mega Solar Array facility was recently shut down due to an attack that’s being considered a terror attack when power facility employees called police to report that man broke through a fence and set a vehicle on fire, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.
The alleged attacker was arrested and faces felony charges, including counts of arson, escape by a prisoner, and destruction of property valued at $5,000 or more.
MGM Resorts is the exclusive user of the electricity generated at the solar array, which includes 323,000 panels across 640 acres. The array produces up to 90 percent of the daytime power at the resorts’ properties, which account for 65 million square feet, 13 properties, and 36,000 rooms.
The array produces 100 megawatts of power. MGM did not reveal how power was provided when the array was offline.
The Review-Journal reported that the U.S. issued a national terrorism advisory about power grid attacks in November. Since November, at least five power grid attacks have occurred across the country.
Dave Lubach is managing editor for the facilities market.
