US approval of Buffett utility's transmission project could unlock 4GW of wind and solar
NV Energy's Greenlink West conduit in Nevada is latest of several clean energy-related power lines approved by the Biden administration
President Joe Biden’s administration has approved electric utility NV Energy’s Greenlink West transmission project in the US state of Nevada that could enable development of up to 4GW of clean power once online by June 2027.
The Record of Decision by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) opens the way for construction to begin in December on the 472-mile project that will connect Las Vegas and Reno, according to NV Energy, part of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, the country’s largest publicly traded conglomerate.
“Right now, these areas cannot be tapped into to meet growing energy demands due to the lack of necessary transmission infrastructure,” NV Energy said on its website. NV Energy is the state’s dominant utility.
BLM said the 525kV line will pass through federal, private, state and tribal lands, and provide electricity for at least 4.8 million homes. Nevada has about 3.2 million residents, mainly in and around Las Vegas and Reno, although population growth has been strong in recent years.
The federal government owns 80.1% of Nevada, more than in any other state.
After taking office in January 2021, Biden instructed executive branch agencies to address shortcomings in federal siting and permitting processes that played a major role in years of delay for multiple transmission projects, particularly those merchant and multi-state.
Greenlink West, whose “robust” environmental review began last year, was less complicated than many merchant projects as it is located entirely within Nevada and NVEnergy’s rate base will pay for it.
Separately, BLM also approved Arevia Power’s Libra Solar project in Nevada with 700MW capacity on an alternating current basis with a 700MW battery energy storage system. This is the state’s largest solar-plus battery energy storage project, according to BLM.
The project will be located on BLM-administered land.
“From building large scale transmission lines to solar power generating facilities, the Interior Department and our team at the BLM are leading the way in the development of reliable, clean energy across the West,” said Laura Daniel-Davis, acting deputy secretary of the Department of Interior, parent agency of BLM.
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