PUC amends compliance order and grants permit for NV Energy’s Sierra Solar Phase 1 (Phase 5)
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Summary
The commission granted a Utility Environmental Protection permit and amended a compliance order for NV Energy’s Sierra Solar Phase 1, approving construction of a 400 MW photovoltaic facility, a 345 kV transmission line and a 400 MW battery storage system across about 28,100 acres; staff and the applicant agreed some local permits were unnecessary.
The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada voted unanimously to amend a compliance order and issue a Utility Environmental Protection (UEP) permit allowing construction related to Phase 5 of the Sierra Solar Phase 1 project by Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company (d/b/a NV Energy).
Hearing Officer Craino presented docket 24-08009, describing a project that includes a 400-megawatt photovoltaic solar energy generating facility, a 345-kilovolt high-voltage transmission line, a generation tie line, a 400-megawatt battery energy storage system and associated facilities to be located on approximately 28,100 acres of private land in Churchill, Washoe, Story and Lyon counties. The application was filed Aug. 8, 2024; on Sept. 30, 2024 the Commission issued a compliance order granting the joint application subject to listed compliance items tied to local permits.
Hearing Officer Craino said NV Energy later filed a motion to modify the compliance order on Oct. 24, 2024 after consulting with local governments and determining some of the listed permits were not required. Staff filed a response on Oct. 28, 2024 agreeing with NV Energy’s position. The proposed order before the Commission removed the permits determined to be unnecessary, and instructed the assistant commission secretary to issue the UEP permit for Phase 5.
Chair Haley Williamson moved to accept the hearing officer’s recommendations and issue the appropriate order; Commissioner Brown seconded. Commissioners voted "aye" and the motion carried.
The order grants the modification requested by the applicant and directs staff to issue the UEP permit for Phase 5. The commission record for docket 24-08009 will contain the detailed permit conditions and the list of removed permits; the meeting discussion did not enumerate the exact permits removed.
