Greenlink Power Line Projects, Active Mining Claims and Private Property – 11-June-24 Update

NV Energy has proposed to build two large power line systems in Nevada. Construction of these Greenlink North and Greenlink West projects would comprise: power lines along with associated access routes as well as both new and upgraded facilities (substations, amplifier sites, microwave sites and material yards).

If approved, NV Energy's proposed Greenlink West electrical transmission lines would run roughly parallel to US 95 between Reno and North Las Vegas.  Similarly, Greenlink North power lines will run roughly parallel to US 50 between Fort Churchill and Robinson Summit.

NMEC wants to alert stakeholders to possible issues with active mining claims and/or private property along the proposed route.

Caution

As of this writing, publicly available maps show access routes specific to NV Energy's original proposed routes for the power lines.  Because the EIS process is dynamic, the alignment of routes and siting of facilities may differ markedly from the maps seen here.    Check with BLM for up-to-date info throughout the EIS process and construction/reclamation phases.

Potential Concerns for Claimants & Surface Owners

1) Once completed, transmission lines may be major impediments to nearby mineral exploration and mining.  If you own land or hold mining claims near any route considered during BLM’s EIS process, letting BLM and NV Energy know of your concerns now could possibly save your land or minerals project.

2) NV Energy has identified numerous access routes needed to complete the as-proposed projects but not necessarily the final decision routes.  Monitoring, documenting (including before, during and after photos) and, if necessary, reporting NV Energy's disturbance and reclamation could save claimant/owner time and money down the road.

Potential Benefit for Claimants & Surface Owners

A nearby power line could make powering your new mine’s operations cheaper.  Rerouting part of a Greenlink project may be more feasible during planning than post-buildout.

If any of the above concerns or benefits apply to you, start a dialog with BLM and NV Energy as soon as possible to discuss your concerns/goals and find equitable solutions.  Waiting could be expensive.

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11-June-2024 - BLM issues final environmental analysis for Greenlink West transmission line

LAS VEGAS – BLM announces the completion of the final environmental analysis of the proposed Greenlink West Transmission Project, a series of transmission lines that would connect Reno and Las Vegas, helping deliver clean energy from the Nevada desert to the Western electric grid. If completed, the project, which crosses approximately 470 miles of BLM-managed public land, could transmit up to 4,000 megawatts of clean energy, enough to power at least 1.2 million homes.

The Greenlink West Transmission Project, proposed by NV Energy, includes the construction, operation and maintenance of a system of new electric transmission facilities crossing Clark, Esmeralda, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Storey and Washoe counties. The project would also include expansions of four substations and construction of two new substations to help bring clean energy to the Western grid. Under the BLM’s preferred alternative, the line would run through regions of the state with potential for clean energy development and would connect Nevada clean energy to the California electric grid.

A Notice of Availability will publish in Friday’s Federal Register for the associated final environmental impact statement and resource management plan amendments, beginning a 30-day protest period that ends on July 15 and a 60-day Governor’s consistency review that ends on August 13. Input received during this time will inform a Record of Decision expected later this year.

Click here for the full press release: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-issues-final-environmental-analysis-greenlink-west-transmission-line

Additional Comments by NMEC

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Greenlink Powerline Projects: October 2023 Update

BLM’s EIS processes for NV Energy’s proposed Greenlink West and North power line projects have moved forward since we first reported in February 2022.   As of late October 2023, the final EIS for Greenlink West is expected around April 30, 2024, and the draft EIS for Greenlink North is anticipated sometime around May-July 2024.  Dates are subject to change.

BLM contact information, documents and maps as of mid-October 2023:

Greenlink North  https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2017033/510

Greenlink West  https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2017391/510

A single, early January 2022, Greenlink West document can be found only at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2017141/510 not at the other West link, above.

North and West overview  https://www.blm.gov/greenlink-west-and-greenlink-north

NV Energy project description and press release:

https://www.nvenergy.com/cleanenergy/greenlink

Greenlink Data Sources

Data for the Greenlink West project’s point and linear features come from BLM/NV Energy's KMZ file which can be found at the second link above (click on “Maps” and scroll down to “Google Earth KMZ File – May 2023”).

Unfortunately, as of early-November 2023, the BLM webpage (top link above) still does not list the original Greenlink North KMZ file.  To request that file call or email “Contact 1” listed on the “Home” page of the Greenlink North link, above.

Map Discrepancies 

Discrepancies (in part substantial) exist between road alignments depicted on an older Nevada-wide roads layer and the new KMZ layers from BLM/NV Energy.

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Many thanks to Richard Knox, NMEC member, for his ongoing monitoring of the Greenlink projects progress and possible impacts. He prepared this Greenlink information and the small-and-large-scale maps (links to the right) comparing mining claims and private property to the construction proposed for both Greenlink North and Greenlink West projects.