Regional planners find Dodge Flat Solar 2 in conformance, approve regional plan mapping amendment

The Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency on a pair of motions found the Dodge Flat Solar 2 project of regional significance in conformance with the 2024 Truckee Meadows Regional Plan and approved a regional plan mapping amendment to add a regional utility corridor and site for the project.

Policy analyst Nate Kusha told commissioners the project would establish a 200‑megawatt photovoltaic generation facility, construct a 345 kilovolt substation and build a roughly one‑mile 345 kV transmission line to the existing Olinghaus substation. The site is north of Wadsworth in the East Truckee River Canyon and is an expansion of the Dodge Flat Energy Center approved in 2018.

The agency determined that the proposal meets the conformance criteria in Policy RC‑9 for population growth, regional form, public facilities and services, natural resources and regional coordination. Staff noted the site is in the rural area outside the Truckee Meadows Service Area and that the proposal would be self‑contained for water and wastewater needs under Policy PF‑4. The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) requested a condition requiring a wildlife protection plan; staff said the plan will address mitigation for sensitive wildlife, migratory birds, raptors and mule deer in coordination with NDOW.

Commissioners moved first to find the Dodge Flat Solar 2 project of regional significance in conformance with the regional plan. That motion passed on a voice vote. Commissioners then moved to adopt RPC Resolution 25‑01, a regional plan amendment that maps the new regional utility corridor and site. Because the amendment required a two‑thirds vote, the commission conducted a roll‑call vote; commissioners recorded affirmative votes, and the motion passed.

Staff emphasized the project triggers the agency’s project‑of‑regional‑significance review because it includes new generation greater than 5 MW, a substation and a transmission line carrying 60 kV or more. Staff also noted that some regional plan policies (NR‑3) exempt utilities from certain development constraint area requirements and that Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe staff have been engaged in the review process.

The agency’s actions were procedural findings and a mapping amendment; no construction permits or jurisdictional approvals were made by the agency. Washoe County and applicable local permitting bodies retain authority over site‑level conditions and construction approvals.

Votes at a glance: - Project of regional significance conformance finding: motion passed (voice vote). Mover not specified in the regional record; second recorded as Commissioner Manny Becerra. Outcome: approved. - RPC Resolution 25‑01 (regional plan mapping amendment): roll‑call vote recorded in the meeting transcript as all affirmative. Named commissioners recorded saying aye included Carrie Rohrmeyer, James Barnes, Michael Flick, Marilyn Kramer, Carl Nieberlein, Rob Pierce, Shelley Reed, David Jackaman and Manny Becerra. Outcome: approved (met two‑thirds threshold).

Staff said they will coordinate required NDOW‑recommended wildlife protections and continue jurisdictional coordination as the project proceeds through Washoe County permitting.