The Department of Interior (DOI) has granted final approval for the Greenlink West transmission line, a massive infrastructure project connecting Las Vegas and Reno.
The 350-mile transmission line, spearheaded by NV Energy, will boost the state’s energy transmission capacity and facilitate the distribution of up to 4,000 megawatts of clean energy—enough to power approximately 4.8 million homes. Construction begins in early 2025, with the project expected to go online by May 2027.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) also released its draft environmental impact statement for Greenlink North, the companion project. Greenlink North is a 210-mile transmission corridor along Highway 50 through several counties, covering 84,700 acres of BLM land. The two projects will link with the existing One Nevada Transmission Line, forming a continuous high-voltage transmission loop throughout the state.
However, the cost of the Greenlink projects has soared, with the combined price tag nearly doubling to $4.24 billion since first proposed in 2019. NV Energy’s wholesale transmission customers and the general public are splitting the cost, with Southern Nevada customers expected to bear 70 percent of the expenses. NV Energy anticipates the projects will generate $690 million in economic activity and create 4,000 jobs.
Environmental concerns have been raised, particularly about the impact of Greenlink North on sage-grouse habitats and other sensitive ecosystems. Patrick Donnelly, the Great Basin director for the Center for Biological Diversity, expressed alarm, calling it “one of the most harmful actions” permitted by the BLM.
The BLM has mandated NV Energy install anti-perching deterrents to minimize predation risks to the bird.
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