The US Department of Interior (DOI) has announced advancements in the development of two new proposed power transmission projects in the US state of Nevada, which together would allow the connection of 8 GW of renewable energy to the Western power grid. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is thus initiating the environmental review for the Greenlink North project and releasing a draft environmental impact statement for Greenlink West transmission project.
The 525 kV Greenlink North transmission project, which will run for 373 km between the White Pine and Lyon counties, will allow the connection of 4 GW of renewables to the grid. A notice of intent for the project has been published, which begins a 45-day scoping and public comment period to help inform the development of the environmental impact statement.
The Greenlink West transmission project, which will run for 724 km between Las Vegas and Reno, will also allow the connection of 4 GW of renewables. Greenlink West would use a system of new 525 kV, 345 kV, 230 kV, and 120 kV electric transmission facilities. The notice of availability for the project opens a 90-day public comment period on the project’s draft environmental impact statement and associated resource management plan amendment.
In April 2023, the DOI approved the construction of the 1,178 km, 500 kV TransWest Express power transmission line, which is set to link four western US states, including Nevada, and provide 3 GW of transmission capacity