Renewable Energy Zones
Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? When first looking at how to move Nevada and the US to a clean energy economy our first issue is which comes first – the energy production projects or the transmission lines.
The Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior along with many states and the Western Governors’ Association decided identifying renewable energy zones would be the first step. Renewable energy zones are created mainly by looking at potential resources like high solar radiation, high wind potential, high potential of geothermal. These areas mainly join together and by identifying these areas a state can start to facilitate the process needed to develop transmission lines that will carry the renewable energy to the cities and areas that need it.
Nevada’s State Legislature directed the Public Utilities Commission to create designated zones in Nevada to allow our state utility to start planning transmission lines. On June 16, 2010 the Public Utilities Commission voted on the order to designate these zones. Click here for the summary from the Western Governor's Association.
Nevada Zone Potential
- Solar Zones - 18,582 MW generating capacity
- Geothermal Zones - 1,368 MW discovered generating capacity
- Wind Zones - 431 MW generating capacity
Other Resources on Renewable Energy Zones
The Western Governor’s report on renewable energy zones
Map of identified renewable energy zones