A multi-billion dollar project connecting solar projects with more than 400 miles of power lines is one step closer to final approval.
The project is called Greenlink. First proposed by NVEnergy in 2020, the project includes constructing two sets of transmission that would connect power generating stations between Reno, Ely and Las Vegas.
The project led to many questions: How much will it cost? Where will the lines be built? And will it help the state reach its goal of generating 50 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources by the end of the decade?
"Solar in the southwestern United States is the cheapest form of electricity on the planet," said Chris Books, Vice President of Arevia Power.
Brooks is also a former Democratic state Senator who helped pass legislation to help NVEnergy access the resources needed to speed up the project's construction. According to him, the state needs Greenlink.
"But where we can develop that solar energy, where the land is available, and where [it] needs to go are sometimes hundreds of miles from each other. We can only connect those dots through transmission lines."
It's also expensive. Originally priced at $2 billion, it's now estimated to cost more than $4 billion. State law allows the company to pass those costs to consumers. However, to prevent price gouging, Brooks argues that the state's Public Utilities Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection and advocacy groups keep a close watch on the process.
He adds that adding more energy to the grid will also help stabilize the market, especially as fossil fuel prices grow increasingly volatile.
"Accessing low-cost, carbon-free energy resources in places far from the load is the only way that we're going to be able to ensure that we have a supply of electricity to keep the lights and air conditioners on and also to keep it affordable," he said.
There are also concerns that the planned route will pass through sensitive desert terrain, be part of a national monument, and restrict air space for training at Nellis Air Force Base.
"The construction certainly is not friendly towards desert tortoise or desert sage grouse," said Olivia Tanager, director of the Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club. It's one of those groups that recently filed public comment asking the federal Bureau of Land Management to change the proposed route.
"We know sage-grouse are particularly sensitive to sound and disruption. But also, how the poles on the transmission are designed allows for perching for predators like ravens. It's hazardous to both desert tortoise and sage-grouse eggs because, generally, in the desert, you don't have tall, high trees like that everywhere. This allows predators to reduce the population numbers further that way."
Instead, she thinks utilities should focus on expanding community solar programs and increasing incentives for rooftop solar installation.
"It goes up on already disturbed land," she said. "It goes up on our rooftops, so we don't have to go over desert tortoise or sage grouse habitats. We can have it right on our roofs, and then consumers can benefit from lower energy bills from rooftop solar. It's just better all around.”
Brooks agrees but doesn't think it is enough to light the state.
"I'm a big fan of distributed generation, rooftop solar, community solar, and any type of renewable energy. I believe that we need all of it, and we need as much of it as we possibly can if we're going to be able to fight the climate crisis while making sure we have affordable, available and reliable electricity."
Guests: Olivia Tanager, director, Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club; Chris Brooks, former state senator, senior vice president of external relations for Arevia Power
