The Nevada Public Utilities Commission (PUCN) has approved an agreement between NV Energy, PUCN regulator staff, the Bureau of Consumer Protection and other stakeholders approving part of the company's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) change and the benefits of three new large solar + storage projects.
These projects are being built in southern Nevada and comprise a total of 478 MW of new photovoltaic solar energy and 338 MW of energy storage. All three projects are expected to serve customers by the end of 2023.
“These new Solar + storage projects are the latest of 12 projects that we have unveiled since 2018 and demonstrate NV Energy's continued commitment to advancing renewable energy development and reducing carbon emissions while customer rates remain low and stable "Said Doug Cannon, President and CEO of NV Energy. "These projects will not only provide clean energy to our customers' homes and businesses, but will also create jobs and help Nevada's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic."
With this approval, NV Energy has also achieved the ambitious storage target of 1,000 MW set in the regulation. By using the new battery systems, NV Energy can store inexpensive solar energy during the day and deliver it to its customers in the evening, bringing NV Energy closer to its long-term goal of providing customers with 100% renewable energy.
The newly approved projects bring NV Energy's current portfolio to 56 geothermal, solar, hydro, wind and biomass projects that are both operational and under development, including 2,669 MW of new solar energy and 1,028 MW of battery storage.
NV Energy's recently approved projects are:
-Dry Lake Solar Project – a 150 MW solar photovoltaic project with a four hour 100 MW battery storage system. The project is located in Clark County, Nevada, 20 miles northeast of Las Vegas in a designated solar energy zone on land leased from the Bureau of Land Management. It is being developed by NV Energy and will be the third and largest proprietary renewable energy project
-Boulder Solar III – a 128 MW solar system with a four hour battery storage system of 58 MW. The project is being built in Clark County, Nevada, in the Eldorado Valley south of Boulder City. It is being developed by 174 PowerGlobal and KOMIPO America Inc., which have extensive experience developing over 550 MW utility-scale solar systems in the Eldorado Valley
-Chuckwalla Solar Project – a 200 MW solar photovoltaic system combined with a four-hour 180 MW battery storage system. The project will take place in Clark County, Nevada, 25 miles northeast of Las Vegas on the Moapa River Indian Reservation. It is being developed by EDF Renewables North America, an independent power company
PUCN's recent decision also provides conditional approval of the Mojave High School Solar Project, the first project under the expanded solar access program established by Law 465 of the Assembly during the 2018 Nevada Legislative Session.
The PUCN continues to consider the company's proposal for Greenlink Nevada. A decision is expected in early 2021.
Photo: NV Energy landing page