Nevada Power applied Oct. 29 at the Nevada Public Utilities Commission for approval of the interconnect of the 100-MW Playa Solar Generation Project into its Harry Allen Substation located 23 miles northeast of Las Vegas.
The application noted that there is a possibility that the developer will expand this project to 200 MW of capacity. It said this capacity will help it meet Nevada’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. The application covers 230-kV interconnection infrastructure needed at the substation.
The Nevada PUC in September gave its approval for plans by Nevada Power for long-term power agreements with two 100-MW solar projects.
- One power contract involves Boulder Solar, a 100-MW solar project in Boulder City, Nev., which is being developed by SunPower. The SunPower project was the top selection from an October 2014 RFP and is expected to generate more than 289,000 MWh of renewable energy in its first full year of service.
- The other contract involves a 100-MW project being developed by First Solar affiliate Playa Solar 2 LLC in Clark County, Nev. The Playa project is located in the Solar Energy Zone in Clark County. This project was the top selection from a January 2015 RFP and is forecast to generate roughly 307,800 MWh of renewable power in its first full year of operation.
Also, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on July 31 accepted a Feb. 25 filing by Nevada Power d/b/a NV Energy of an executed Large Generator Interconnection Agreement with Playa Solar LLC for a 200-MW solar photovoltaic project. The Playa Solar project, with a targeted commercial operation date at the end of 2016, will be in three phases:
- Playa Solar 1, 100 MW net at Point of Interconnection;
- Playa Solar 2, additional 50 MW net at Point of Interconnection; and
- Playa Solar 3, additional 50 MW net at Point of Interconnection.
