Heavy electrical transmission strains on the highly effective Ivanpah Photo voltaic Electrical Producing System, positioned in California’s Mojave Desert on the base of Clark Mountain and simply south of this stateline neighborhood on Interstate 15, are considered on July 15, 2022 close to Primm, Nevada. The Ivanpah system consists of three photo voltaic thermal energy vegetation and 173,500 heliostats (mirrors) on 3,500 acres and encompasses a gross capability of 392 megawatts (MW).
George Rose | Getty Photographs Information | Getty Photographs
The Inside Division’s Bureau of Land Administration this week mentioned it has superior two transmission initiatives proposed by public utility NV Power that will facilitate extra renewable vitality growth and supply in Nevada.
The company will begin an environmental evaluate for the Greenlink North mission, which can span over 450 miles to attach Las Vegas to Reno, and launch a draft environmental impression assertion for the Greenlink West transmission mission, which can cowl 232 miles from Ely to Yerington.
As soon as accomplished, the initiatives will join eight gigawatts of fresh vitality to the Western energy grid. The plans would bolster the Biden administration’s aim to deploy 25 gigawatts of renewable vitality on public lands and waters by 2025 and obtain a carbon-free energy sector by 2035.
The announcement comes as Congress debates federal vitality allowing overhauls, with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., introducing a measure earlier this month to hurry allowing of each fossil gas and renewable vitality initiatives.
Transmission initiatives contain increasing high-voltage strains that transport renewable vitality to populated areas and can play a crucial position in accelerating the clear vitality transition whereas assembly rising energy demand.
The BLM goals to finalize proposed paperwork and develop a file of determination for the Greenlink West mission by late 2024. It’ll additionally launch draft environmental planning paperwork for the Greenlink North mission for public remark later this 12 months.
“Our public lands have a crucial position to play within the clear vitality transition,” BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning mentioned in a press release.
The company mentioned it has permitted 35 clear vitality initiatives over the previous couple of years, together with photo voltaic, geothermal, and gen-tie installations, that are anticipated to generate 8,160 megawatts of electrical energy, or sufficient to energy greater than 2.6 million properties.
Some initiatives embrace the SunZia Southwest Transmission Undertaking in New Mexico and building approval for California’s Daylight Storage II Battery Storage System. The company can also be reviewing initiatives like Utah’s Star Vary Photo voltaic Undertaking and Nevada’s Bonanza Photo voltaic Undertaking.
