Power Transmission:

Power transmission is a key factor in the development of Nevada's renewable energy resources. Without the transmission facilities and infrastructure necessary to move electricity, renewable energy projects will not be developed. There are several initiatives underway to improve Nevada, and Nye County's, power transmission infrastructure.

Governor's New Energy Industry Task Force and Technical Advisory Committee

On November 21, 2011 Governor Sandoval issued an Executive Order providing direction to the new Energy Industry Task Force and establishing a Technical Advisory Committee to facilitate establishing a renewable energy export industry in the State of Nevada. The Governor charged the Task Force and Advisory Committee with facilitating the timely development of transmission facilities and renewable energy resources in the State, including facilitation of permitting, construction, and electrical interconnection of facilities and resources. Nye County Commissioner Joni Eastley, recognized for her work supporting the sustainable development of Nye County's renewable resources, serves on the Committee. Specific tasks for the Committee were:

• Identify and establish appropriate corridors for the transmission of electricity in this State recognizing Renewable Energy Zones adopted by the Public Utilities Commission.
• Promote development and regionalization of transmission facilities and renewable energy resources in this State.
• Coordinate with existing electrical utilities, the Public Utilities Commission and stakeholders on the development of regional transmission planning and cost allocation strategies for interstate transmission facilities.
• Develop the business case for Nevada's renewable resources.

Valley Electric Association (VEA) Plans to Join California Independent System Operator

On October 14, 2011 the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) filed a Transition Agreement between the CAISO and Valley Electric Association, Inc. (VEA) setting forth the terms and conditions under which VEA will transition from the NV Energy balancing authority area to the CAISO balancing authority area. With this move, VEA's transmission customers may be considered California "Bucket One" (domestic) resources under CA SBX 1-2.

Valley Electric Association (VEA) Hidden Hills Transmission Line

To support the Hidden Hills Transmission Project, in November, 2011 VEA began permitting 9.7 miles of new 230 kilovolt (kV) single circuit transmission line and 53 miles of new 500 kV single circuit transmission line connecting with the Eldorado substation south of Las Vegas.

NV Energy Renewable Transmission Initiative

NV Energy's Renewable Transmission Initiative (RTI) issued a Solicitation of Interest in June, 2011 to enable NV Energy to determine which of the State's renewable zones would generate sufficient interest on the part of market participants to support development of transmission infrastructure to export energy from those zones. Please see the project map.

Renewable Energy Transmission Access Advisory Committee (RETAAC)

In May 2007, Governor Jim Gibbons created the RETAAC to identify Nevada's renewable energy zones, review current transmission capabilities, and identify ways to ensure that Nevada's transmission of electricity from renewable energy resources is efficient and cost effective. A RETAAC Phase II report was issued in July 2009 that detailed the following principal findings:

• Nevada's renewable energy zones and the transmission necessary to access the potential electricity within those zones;
  
• New transmission lines necessary to export the electricity contained in Nevada's renewable energy zones;
  
• Ranks of the economic feasibility of the transmission needed to access each prioritized renewable energy zone.
  

West-wide Energy Corridor Programmatic EIS Information Center

The West-Wide Energy Corridor Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) was completed in November 2008 by the United States Department of Energy, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the United States Forest Service, and the Department of Defense. The PEIS identifies proposed Section 368 energy corridors to facilitate future siting of renewable energy development projects and electricity transmission and distribution facilities on Federal Lands in the West. A multi-modal energy corridor is proposed for southern Nye County, Nevada.

BLM Renewable Energy Offices to Expedite Development of Renewable Energy

On January 16, 2009 the Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne authorized the BLM to establish Renewable Energy Coordination Offices in a further effort to expedite the permitting of wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal projects on BLM-managed lands, along with the electrical transmission facilities needed to deliver the energy from these projects. The offices have been located initially in the states where the greatest interest has been shown in renewable energy development: Nevada, Arizona, California, and Wyoming.

One Nevada Transmission Line (ON Line)

The One Nevada Transmission Line (ON Line) 500 kV line will extend 236 miles from the Harry Allen substation north of Las Vegas to a substation under construction west of Ely, Nevada. This major NV Energy line crosses the northeastern portion of Nye County and links transmission facilities in northern and southern Nevada. A secondary purpose of the line is to carry renewable energy (primarily Wyoming wind) to the Eldorado substation, and it may be used for Nevada renewable energy in the future.

Las Vegas Paiute and Valley Electric Association Agreement

An historic agreement between the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe and Valley Electric Association (VEA) has been made, the first of its kind in Nevada between an Indian Tribe and a utility. The Agreement is for a 50-year term on a 60-foot wide rights-of-way (ROW) on the southern and western edge of the Snow Mountain Reservation for VEA's 2-230kV and 2-138kV transmission lines, with an access road included within the ROW.