The contracts include a 50MW solar photovoltaic project to be constructed near Primm, Nevada by NextLight Renewable Power; a 3.2MW landfill energy project in Storey County, Nevada by Waste Management; a 53.5MW geothermal project in central Nevada by Ram Power; and a 25MW geothermal project in Elko County by Reno-based Ormat Technologies.
The company said that these four projects can meet the year-round electricity needs of a community of approximately 100,000 people. NV Energy now has 1240MW of geothermal, solar, wind, biomass, small hydro and waste-heat recovery projects under contract that are either in commercial operation or in the project development stage.
All four new power purchase agreements stem from NV Energy’s 2009 renewable energy request for proposals. The four renewable energy contracts will help NV Energy meet its renewable portfolio standard established by the Nevada State Legislature.
Currently, the standard requires 12% of NV Energy’s sales to be provided by renewable energy and energy conservation efforts, and that amount ratchets up at specific intervals until it reaches 25% by 2025.
The company increased production of renewable credits by 22% from 2008 to 2009 for its renewable portfolio. NV energy added 491MW of contracts for new renewable energy projects in the last 12 months, including the most recent 132MW.
