NV Energy, a public utility company and subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy announced an integrated resource plan of building more than 500 miles of transmission lines and three new solar plus storage projects as a part of its “Greenlink Nevada” plan.
Through this transmission and renewable energy initiative, NE Energy hopes to transform the clean energy landscape in the state of Nevada, create jobs, promote economic development, and aid the state to achieve its environmental and carbon reduction goals.
"Greenlink Nevada is essential to unlocking Nevada's clean energy potential and meeting Nevada's renewable and de-carbonization goals by providing access to new in-state solar and geothermal resources and creating opportunities to maximize renewable resource opportunities across the west,” said Doug Cannon, NV Energy President, and Chief Executive Officer.
The state of Nevada recently enhanced renewable portfolio and now expects 50 percent of energy utilized in Nevada to come from renewable energy resources.
Cannon added that these “transmission lines are timed in order to meet this mandate and to make significant advancements to meet the state's 2050 carbon reduction objectives."
According to the proposed plan, Greenlink North, the first major segment will have 525 kV line that spans approximately 235 miles from Ely, NV to Yerington, NV. Greenlink West, the second major segment, will be a 351-mile, 525 kV line from Las Vegas, NV to Yerington, NV. Greenlink Nevada. This will also include three 345 kV lines from Yerington, NV to the Reno and Innovation Park areas to support new economic development.
In addition to the transmission lines, NV Energy also announced three new solar plus storage projects. These projects will be built in southern Nevada, with a total of 478MWof new solar photovoltaic generation and 338MWof battery storage, which the company estimates will power more than 107,000 homes.
The new projects are expected to be completed and to serve new customers by the end of 2023:
Dry Lake Solar Project - Solar photovoltaic project of 150MW capacity with a 100MW, four-hour battery storage system. The project will be located in Clark County, NV. On completion, it will become NE Energy’s second and largest company-owned renewable project.
Boulder Solar III – 128MW solar array that includes a 58MW, four-hour battery storage system. The project will be built in Clark County, NV in the Eldorado Valley south of Boulder City. It is being developed by 174 PowerGlobal and KOMIPO America Inc.
Chuckwalla Solar Project – 200MW (AC) solar photovoltaic array coupled with a 180MW, four-hour battery storage system. The project will be located in Clark County, NV 25 miles northeast of Las Vegas within the Moapa River Indian Reservation. It is being developed by EDF Renewables North America.
NV Energy anticipates a decision on Greenlink Nevada by the end of this year. The project has been filed as part of NV Energy's Integrated Resource Plan filing with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada and is subject to PUCN (Nevada Public Utilities Commission) approval.
The recently announced projects will all add to NV Energy's current portfolio of 53 geothermal, solar, hydro, wind, biomass projects( both in service and under development project), including 2,191MW of new solar energy and nearly 700MW of battery energy storage systems.