Las Vegas City Wire

Southern Nevada is advancing its clean energy infrastructure with new projects aimed at expanding renewable resources. This effort supports the region's growing population and helps the state meet its renewable energy objectives.

Las Vegas became the first large U.S. city to fully transition to renewable energy for powering buildings, streetlights, and facilities in 2016. The city also utilizes solar power across 40 parks, community centers, and other locations. Many resorts on the Las Vegas Strip are increasingly powered by renewables, either through NV Energy or MGM Resorts International's solar array. Earlier this year, Southern Nevada hosted a Super Bowl powered entirely by renewable energy. These efforts have contributed to renewable sources accounting for 37 percent of Nevada's total energy use, with a goal of reaching 50 percent by 2030.

Currently, natural gas accounts for 58.3 percent of Nevada’s power supply, while coal contributes 6.4 percent. Despite a decline in fossil fuel usage, increasing energy demands highlight the urgency for developing renewables. NV Energy served over one million customers last year—a 1.6 percent increase from 2022—and saw its peak load rise by 4.6 percent to 6.3 gigawatts.

The Greenlink West transmission line project will enhance connectivity between Southern and Northern Nevada by running a 350-mile line from Las Vegas to Yerington with a capacity of up to four gigawatts—enough to power more than four million homes at full capacity. It will be joined by Greenlink North, connecting Yerington to Ely and creating an energy loop with the existing One Nevada line from Ely to Las Vegas. Construction is set to start in early 2025 with completion expected in Spring 2027.

Improved connectivity will enable Southern Nevada to leverage statewide renewable resources more effectively. With solar power as the largest and fastest-growing source of renewables in Nevada—currently generating 23 percent of electricity—the state hosts numerous operational solar farms alongside small-scale installations.

Southern Nevada features 28 solar array facilities producing a combined capacity of 3.2 gigawatts; another 18 projects are under development targeting an additional output of 6.4 gigawatts. To support long-term storage needs for excess energy, there are plans for developing battery storage projects totaling a combined capacity of nearly eleven gigawatts; one such facility operates near Moapa on the former site of Reid Gardner Power Station.

Ongoing development in renewable generation along with transmission and storage infrastructure is vital not only for meeting rising regional demands but also reducing carbon emissions while aligning with state targets.