Transmission Lines Searchlight, Nevada, March by the US National Archives is licensed under CC-CC0 1.0
The massive Greenlink West Transmission Project in Nevada received the final green light this week from the US Department of the Interior.
The project will build a new 525 kV power line that will extend 350 miles from Las Vegas to Yerington, southwest of Reno, and significantly increase the capacity of Nevada's grid. It will cross federal, state, tribal, and private lands in seven states.
Once completed, NV Energy's Greenlink West will be able to carry up to 4,000 megawatts (MW) of clean energy – enough to power more than 4.8 million homes. Greenlink West is an important part of Nevada's drive to increase renewable energy production and modernize its power grid.
Construction is expected to begin early next year, and the goal is to bring it online by May 2027.
Currently, much of the solar, geothermal, and wind energy produced in rural areas cannot be effectively shipped to cities like Las Vegas and Reno, where demand is high. Greenlink West will fix that by connecting clean energy sources to urban areas.
Along with the 210-mile long, 525 kV Greenlink North, which will run from Ely to Yerington and is undergoing environmental upgrades, the two lines will tie into the existing One Nevada Transmission line. The entire $4.24 billion transmission project, which is expected to generate $690 million in economic activity and create nearly 4,000 good-paying jobs, will lead to an ongoing triangle of power lines in the state, according to the video below:
The project will also include three 345 kV lines from Yerington to the Reno area.
Greenlink North is expected to be operational by December 2028.
Read more: US electricity demand is about to rise – here's what needs to happen
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