Renewable energy project developer Premium Energy has obtained a 3-year preliminary permit from the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to conduct a feasibility study for the 2 GW Walter Lake pumped-storage hydropower project in Mineral County, Nevada (United States).
The preliminary permit gives Premium Energy the priority in applying for a license for the project. As part of the project, Premium Energy would build an upper reservoir, as well as an underground power plant, including five 400 MW turbines, and a 16-km-long, 500 kV transmission line. The project is strongly opposed by native people, non-native locals in Mineral County and environmental groups.
In December 2019, the FERC awarded to Premium Energy a preliminary permit to carry out a study for the Intermountain Pumped Storage Project in Utah, with a capacity comprised between 1.2 GW to 2 GW.