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If you build it, they will come.
And that’s just the case with geothermal plants south of Fallon that are close to producing green electricity. The plants are under construction, and the electricity transmission lines to carry to power to the grid are coming.
NV Energy is in the planning stages of building a new substation, two switching stations and more than 19 miles of transmission lines in Churchill County. But the $30 million project will take some time.
“We hope to have all the permits in place by June of 2012,” said Clyne Cook, NV Energy senior project manager. “Then we would start construction, which we’re estimating at 12 to 18 months, depending on how the geothermal plants roll in.”
Officially known as the Fallon 230kV Source Project, the plans call for the construction of a new substation, known as the Greenwave Substation, on the south side of Sheckler Road. Cook said NV Energy is looking in the general vicinity of the intersection of Allen and Sheckler roads, but the company hasn’t pursued land acquisition yet because of the lengthy federal processes it must complete.
Two switching stations are included in the project — one named Carson Lake approximately 19.5 miles southeast of Fallon, and the other named the Pony Express switching station in the vicinity of Enel’s Salt Wells geothermal plant.
The last portion of the project includes construction of approximately 19.4 miles of single-circuit 230 kV electric transmission limes between the Greenwave substation and the Enel Salt Wells geothermal plant, located approximately 16 miles southeast of Fallon.
Cook said the new substation, two switching stations and new transmission lines are only part of NV Energy’s “big plan” which would also include two additional switching stations tied to two geothermal plants currently under construction by Vulcan Power and Ormat. However, until those plants are complete, plans for their associated switching stations will remain on hold.
Because a large portion of the project crosses federal land, an environmental impact statement will be performed by the Bureau of Land Management. Lee Simpkins, team leader of environmental services for NV Energy, said the company has a good relationship with BLM and understands the federal process will take a while.
“(BLM) has to gather environmental baseline data, analyze it and look at alternatives,” Simpkins said, adding that BLM performs the EIS so it does not appear NV Energy controls the process.
“BLM wants it to be their document, and it’s their process,” Simpkins said.
Cook said the need is very real to increase transmission capacity south of Fallon.
“Two of our biggest customers in that area — the city of Fallon and the Navy base — are on that southeast side. As they grow, it will allow up to meet their needs.”
Simpkins said because of the economic downturn, some NV Energy construction projects have been delayed, including a new substation and transmission lines near Silver Springs that would serve four counties, and another line project near Carson City. However, the Fallon project has a green light.
“This project is one that brings in an additional source of power and makes it more reliable,” Simpkins said.
And that’s just the case with geothermal plants south of Fallon that are close to producing green electricity. The plants are under construction, and the electricity transmission lines to carry to power to the grid are coming.
NV Energy is in the planning stages of building a new substation, two switching stations and more than 19 miles of transmission lines in Churchill County. But the $30 million project will take some time.
“We hope to have all the permits in place by June of 2012,” said Clyne Cook, NV Energy senior project manager. “Then we would start construction, which we’re estimating at 12 to 18 months, depending on how the geothermal plants roll in.”
Officially known as the Fallon 230kV Source Project, the plans call for the construction of a new substation, known as the Greenwave Substation, on the south side of Sheckler Road. Cook said NV Energy is looking in the general vicinity of the intersection of Allen and Sheckler roads, but the company hasn’t pursued land acquisition yet because of the lengthy federal processes it must complete.
Two switching stations are included in the project — one named Carson Lake approximately 19.5 miles southeast of Fallon, and the other named the Pony Express switching station in the vicinity of Enel’s Salt Wells geothermal plant.
The last portion of the project includes construction of approximately 19.4 miles of single-circuit 230 kV electric transmission limes between the Greenwave substation and the Enel Salt Wells geothermal plant, located approximately 16 miles southeast of Fallon.
Cook said the new substation, two switching stations and new transmission lines are only part of NV Energy’s “big plan” which would also include two additional switching stations tied to two geothermal plants currently under construction by Vulcan Power and Ormat. However, until those plants are complete, plans for their associated switching stations will remain on hold.
Because a large portion of the project crosses federal land, an environmental impact statement will be performed by the Bureau of Land Management. Lee Simpkins, team leader of environmental services for NV Energy, said the company has a good relationship with BLM and understands the federal process will take a while.
“(BLM) has to gather environmental baseline data, analyze it and look at alternatives,” Simpkins said, adding that BLM performs the EIS so it does not appear NV Energy controls the process.
“BLM wants it to be their document, and it’s their process,” Simpkins said.
Cook said the need is very real to increase transmission capacity south of Fallon.
“Two of our biggest customers in that area — the city of Fallon and the Navy base — are on that southeast side. As they grow, it will allow up to meet their needs.”
Simpkins said because of the economic downturn, some NV Energy construction projects have been delayed, including a new substation and transmission lines near Silver Springs that would serve four counties, and another line project near Carson City. However, the Fallon project has a green light.
“This project is one that brings in an additional source of power and makes it more reliable,” Simpkins said.
