Part of NV Energy’s $4.24 billion Greenlink project has taken a step forward

Power transmission lines are shown in this file photo. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan, File)

This week, part of a massive power transmission project proposed by NV Energy took another step forward in the federal approval process.

The Bureau of Land Management has completed its final environmental impact study for the Greenlink West project, which will include the construction of 772 miles of transmission lines between the Las Vegas area and Reno. The results of the analysis have not yet been published, but may be made available later this week.

If built, Greenlink West could transmit enough clean energy to power 1.2 million homes, the BLM says.

This analysis is necessary before BLM officials can approve construction of Greenlink West. The BLM says the Greenlink West project will cover several Nevada counties, including Clark, Esmeralda, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Storey and Washoe.

Receipt of the final environmental analysis from the BLM puts the Greenlink West project “very close” to beginning construction, NV Energy CEO Doug Cannon said at an event Tuesday hosted by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

However, this analysis is not the final step. The protest filing period will end on July 15, and the governor’s 60-day compliance review will end on Aug. 13, the BLM said. A final decision on the Greenlink West route is expected later this year.

The Greenlink West project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.

The Greenlink West project is just one of two major transmission lines that NV Energy is seeking to build as part of the Greenlink Nevada project, which aims to create loops of large-scale transmission lines throughout Nevada. NV Energy said Greenlink infrastructure would make it easier for the state to add renewable energy sources.

“(Greenlink West) will improve power reliability for customers to ensure the lights stay on during times when our customers need power the most,” Cannon said. “In addition, this project will free up thousands of acres of land that was previously available for renewable energy development but could not be developed because there was no transmission to get the energy to where it could actually be used.”

While Greenlink has the potential to boost renewable energy sources in Nevada, the cost of the project has skyrocketed in recent years. NV Energy said the project’s price tag had increased to $4.24 billion, up from an initial estimate of $2.5 billion.

Contact Sean Hemmersmeier at [email protected]. Follow @seanhemmers34 on X