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NV Energy solar contracts aimed at heading off Nev. ballot measure

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NV Energy solar contracts aimed at heading off Nev. ballot measure

NV Energy Inc. has contracted for 1,001 MW of solar capacity with six major projects in Nevada, the company announced May 31.

The Berkshire Hathaway Energy subsidiary will put three of the projects in northern Nevada and three more in southern Nevada in an effort that NV Energy CEO Paul Caudill called the largest renewable energy expansion investment in the state's history. Direct investment in the state's economy, including costs of construction, will be greater than $2 billion, Caudill said.

The announcement appears aimed at least in part toward blunting the popularity of the state's Energy Choice Initiative, also known as Question 3, on the November ballot. Caudill said the projects will employ more than 1,700 construction workers and added that that company's decision "demonstrates that we are navigating the uncertainties of the current market, given Question 3 on the statewide ballot."

The projects are to be completed and in service by the end of 2021, but Caudill noted NV Energy has the option to not proceed with them in the event Question 3 passes, to avoid increasing the liabilities and risks to NV Energy customers. He cited the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada's April report on the voter initiative, which described the impact the statewide voter initiative's approval would have on the utility's ratepayers and investment plans.

The initiative calls for changing the state's constitution to end NV Energy's utility monopoly by allowing everyone to choose their own electricity provider or generate power independently. NV Energy opposes it, while prominent supporters include data center operators, casino and hotel operators and solar companies.

NV Energy said it will file a request with the PUC on June 1 requesting approval of six new 25-year renewable energy power purchase agreements which were the result of a competitive solicitation initiated in January.

NV Energy also announced its clean energy expansion plans include 100 MW of integrated battery energy storage systems charged by solar energy, which is the first such proposal from the company for Nevada and includes three storage projects that would be tied to the solar projects that have been selected.

Specifically, the six solar power purchase agreements are for the following photovoltaic projects:

* Cypress Creek Renewables LLC's 101-MW Battle Mountain Solar Project near Battle Mountain, Nev., which includes 25 MW of battery storage.

* NextEra Energy Inc. subsidiary NextEra Energy Resources LLC's 200-MW Dodge Flat Solar Energy Center near Reno, Nev., with 50 MW of battery storage.

* NextEra's 100-MW Fish Springs Ranch Solar Center, also near Reno, with 25 MW of battery storage.

* 8minutenergy Renewables' 300-MW Eagle Shadow Mountain Solar Farm near Las Vegas, Nev., which will be built on land the Moapa Band of Paiutes own.

* Sempra Energy subsidiary Sempra Renewables LLC's 250-MW Copper Mountain Solar 5 project in Eldorado Valley, just south of Boulder City, Nev.

* Techren Solar LLC 's 50-MW Techren Solar V project, which will be next to Techren's four other solar projects that are under construction.