The U.S. Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office has selected TransCanyon to enter into capacity contract negotiations for the Cross-Tie 500 kV transmission line as part of the Transmission Facilitation Program.
“Cross-Tie is a proposed 214-mile transmission line that will connect Utah and Nevada to increase transmission capacity, improve grid reliability and resilience, relieve congestion on other key transmission lines, and expand access to renewable energy across the region,” said Ed Rihn, president and CEO, BHE U.S. Transmission. “The bidirectional nature of Cross-Tie will increase transfer capabilities in the West, unlocking increased access to renewable energy resources in the region.”
The transmission line will help deliver 1,500 MW of renewable generation throughout the region, including solar generation in Utah, Nevada and California, and wind generation in Wyoming and Utah; provide access to new markets for existing renewable energy in the region, including new markets for excess solar power in California; reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 19.5 million tons of CO2 between 2028 and 2050, or about 850,000 tons per year, by lowering curtailments of existing renewable generation and enabling the development of new solar and wind resources; and increase regional reliability and improve resilience during extreme weather events.
The line to be built, owned, operated, and maintained by TransCanyon will run from the Clover Substation in Mona, Utah, to the Robinson Summit Substation near Ely, Nevada, increasing the strength of the transmission system and leading to increased reliability of the grid and better overall electric service to regional retail electricity customers.
The project will generate more than 2,400 direct full-time equivalent jobs, with an additional 1,700 jobs in related and supporting industries such as finance, insurance, transportation and hospitality.
Additionally, the line is also expected to produce a combined $9.1 million per year for the region through project development income taxes and fill a combined $761 million in total economic activity for the Utah and Nevada economies.
“This project is consistent with Pinnacle West’s strategy to grow our operations through carefully selected opportunities close to our core business,” said Robert E. Smith, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Development Officer for Pinnacle West. "The proposed transmission line will deliver economic benefits and enhance reliability for all electricity customers in the region, while also promoting the growth, exchange and more efficient use of renewable energy resources.”
