Biden Administration Advances Two Nevada Transmission Projects

---

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Last week, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced it is advancing the permitting process for two proposed transmission projects in Nevada--Greenlink North and Greenlink West--which would bolster the state's renewable energy development and delivery. Industrial Info is tracking related project reports.

The department's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently released a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for Greenlink West and is in a 45-day scoping and public comment period for Greenlink North, which will help the BLM draft the project's EIS. Both projects are being developed by NV Energy Incorporated (Las Vegas, Nevada), a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated (NYSE:BRK.A) (Omaha, Nebraska). According to the NV Energy website, the lines allow access to Nevada's renewable-energy zones, which contain about 4 gigawatts (GW) of undeveloped renewable resources, that could not otherwise be developed due to a lack of transmission infrastructure.

According to a press release, if approved, the projects could "unlock" a combined 8 GW of renewable energy.

Greenlink West is a planned 525-kilovolt (kV) line spanning about 350 miles from Las Vegas, running north to Yerington, south of Reno. Industrial Info is tracking related project reports, worth a combined $1.1 billion:

• a 65-mile segment from NV Energy's existing Northwest Substation in Las Vegas to the planned Amargosa Valley Substation
• a 118-mile segment from Amargosa Valley to the planned Esmeralda Substation
• a 101-mile segment from Esmerelda to the planned Fort Churchill Substation in Yerington

In addition, a 35-mile segment will run from the Northwest Substation to the existing Harry Allen Substation--both of which are in Clark County. NV Energy also plans to upgrade the Northwest Substation by adding new transformers and other components. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project Database can click here to read detailed project reports for Greenlink West. The BLM aims to prepare a record of decision by late 2024, and NV Energy hopes to put the line in service in 2026.

Meanwhile, Greenlink North, another 525-kV line, will run about 235 miles from Yerington, east to Ely. A 135-mile segment will run from the Fort Churchill Substation in Yerington to the planned Lander Substation, and a 101-mile segment will run from Lander to the existing Robinson Summit Substation in Ely.

Subscribers can click here to read reports on Greenlink North. The BLM plans to issue the draft environmental planning documents for public comment later this year. NV Energy aims to bring the line into service in 2028.

Greenlink Nevada (both projects combined) also includes three 345-kV lines that run from Yerington, north to Reno.

Both lines will interconnect with NV Energy's 500-kV, 235-mile One Nevada Line, which is in service and runs from Ely to Las Vegas. Click here for more information.

The new updates on the two projects come as another major transmission line serving the western U.S.--the SunZia Transmission project--received federal approval last week, paving the way for construction to begin this summer. The project is intended to transport up to 4,500 MW of "primarily renewable energy," according to the BLM, from New Mexico to markets in Arizona, and onto California via existing transmission lines. The related SunZia Wind project will provide some of the generation to be delivered. For more information on the projects, see Industrial Info's February 21, 2023, article - BLM Advances Major New Mexico-Arizona Transmission Project, and May 17, 2023, article - Pattern Energy Signs PPAs for Major SunZia Wind Project.

Last month, the BLM announced it plans to auction off parcels of land in the southern Nevada to develop solar generation. For more information, see Industrial Info's April 20, 2023, article - BLM Announces Nevada Land Auction for Solar Development.

Subscribers to the GMI database can click here for all project reports mentioned in this article and click here for a list of the operational and proposed substations.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).