Las Vegas-based NV Energy and Broomfield, Colo.-based Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. (RES Americas) are moving forward with development of the China Mountain 200 MW wind energy project. Earlier this year, the companies finalized a joint development agreement, and NV Energy recently closed on its purchase of a 50% interest in the project development, which was completed under the agreement.
The China Mountain project is proposed for a location at the Nevada-Idaho border on a combination of federal, state and private lands. Construction of the project to serve NV Energy's electric customers would be conditioned on grants of rights-of-way (ROW) by respective landowners and approval by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada. Consideration of ROW applications for federal lands includes analysis of the environmental impacts of a proposed project.
The project, which could eventually be expanded to 425 MW, will use state-of-the-art large-scale wind turbines to produce electricity for delivery to a nearby NV Energy 345 kV transmission line. The wind turbines installed on the project site will not produce any conflicts with military airspace activities.
The National Environmental Policy Act review process with the Bureau of Land Management is under way to identify and analyze the potential environmental impacts of the project on federal lands. The review is estimated to be completed in late 2010.
Wildlife studies will be completed as part of the review and will determine appropriate measures to avoid or mitigate impacts to wildlife and habitat.
This is one of several wind energy projects that NV Energy is working to develop. The company also is performing wind energy studies in Clark County and other northern counties in Nevada.
SOURCE: NV Energy Inc.
