Nevada joins western coalition that aiming to strengthen regional power grid

Growing communities, and new, large-scale projects popping up left and right.

It’s a time of rapid growth here in the western United States, and experts say over the next decade, electricity demand is expected to jump more than 20% across the region.

In anticipation of the bump, Nevada and 10 other western states formed a group called the Western Transmission Expansion Coalition, aiming to bring more power to those who need it.

They want to establish a regional framework and prioritize high-impact transmission lines, while urging Congress and the Trump administration to move projects along faster.

This agreement comes after several solar plans have been delayed in Nevada, following the order last year that Interior Secretary Doug Burgum must personally review all projects.

Joe Lombardo detailed the Silver State’s continued economic success depends on reliable, affordable energy, saying in a statement… “As our state expands and attracts new businesses, we need the infrastructure to support that growth. This agreement shows that western states can work together to modernize our grid, protect ratepayers, and build the transmission network needed to power the next generation of economic opportunity.”

Olivia Tanager, Executive Director of the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter, says the region is growing rapidly, and new transmission is needed. But she noted that when the new power is going to data centers or natural gas plants, she’s not in favor.

“We were promised that the green link transmission projects were going to help decarbonize our grid and be the answer to renewable energy in Nevada. And instead, what we’re seeing is we’re seeing data centers and natural gas plants being hooked up directly to those projects,” said Tanager.