NV Energy filed with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) a plan that seeks to advance Nevada’s energy independence by reducing its reliance on the open energy market and increasing renewable energy capacity in Nevada.
This proposal puts forward a balanced and measured approach to address the effects of regionwide heatwaves and drought on the availability of western energy resources and to shield NV Energy customers from the impacts of California regulatory changes and resource adequacy challenges that state has experienced.
“Over the past three summers, the historic energy supply for Nevada has been challenged and has seen increased risk of summer energy shortages due to increased competition for energy across the west, primarily due to energy shortfalls in California,” said Doug Cannon, NV Energy President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our plan will advance Nevada’s energy independence – ensuring reliable energy for our customers no matter how hot it gets across the western United States while also advancing our state’s sustainability and clean energy goals.”
The plan seeks to add Nevada-based energy generation and storage capacity that will be scheduled for commercial operation in the summer of 2024 and 2025 and to make upgrades to our transmission system to accommodate more renewable energy resources.
These resources include:
- A 200-megawatt grid-tied battery storage system on the site of the coal-fired Valmy Generating Station, which is planned for retirement by year-end 2025
- 120-megawatt portfolio of geothermal projects from Ormat
- 20-megawatt Enhanced Geothermal system from Eavor
- 440 megawatts of highly efficient natural gas-fired combustion peaking turbines on the site of the Silverhawk Generating Station in southern Nevada. These will provide the energy needed during critical periods of intense demand to maintain system reliability and also support the transition to more renewable energy. These turbines are also capable of running on hydrogen, a non-carbon fuel.
NV Energy evaluated multiple resource options as part of its planning process to address the energy needs of Nevada and do so in a cost-effective way. This plan ensures NV Energy remains well on track to meet the state’s renewable portfolio requirement of 50 percent by 2030 and its 2050 clean energy goal while ensuring customers have safe, affordable and reliable power year-round.
The PUCN will schedule a consumer session to seek public input on NV Energy’s integrated resource plan amendment filing. The company expects a decision on this filing by mid-year 2023.
NV Energy provides a wide range of energy services to more than 1.5 million customers throughout Nevada and a typical annual tourist population of 54 million. NV Energy, Inc. is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company, do business as NV Energy.
