First Solar, NV Energy and Switch combine efforts to create new 100 MW Solar Project named "Switch Station"

July 14, 2015 - Switch, NV Energy, and the Regulatory Operations Staff of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) have found a solution to Switch’s pending application to unbundle from the southern NV Energy system. The agreement, filed with the PUCN on July 10, 2015, will allow Switch’s expanding business in southern Nevada to be served with 100 percent renewable energy. Switch will remain a full requirements customer of NV Energy. The agreement has been signed by Switch, NV Energy and the PUCN Regulatory Operations Staff. 

As part of the settlement package, which requires PUCN approval, Switch’s growing energy load will be served from a new 100 megawatt solar photovoltaic project to be constructed by First Solar, north of Las Vegas. The new solar facility, to go into commercial operation in late 2016 and be named Switch Station, will deliver renewable energy to the NV Energy transmission and distribution grid. Switch will pay a premium for 100 percent green energy under what is termed the NV Green Energy Rider tariff. In addition, Switch will receive service under NV Energy’s High Load Factor tariff schedule, which was developed and approved by the PUCN in 2014. This rate schedule recognizes the unique attributes of companies like Switch that run their facilities at steady, higher demands through the course of the day and more importantly all night long.

“My goal for a number of years has been to move Switch, and the customers we serve through our full service data and technology centers in Nevada, to 100 percent green, renewable energy.  Unfortunately, that program was not made available under the previous management at NV Energy. It is the primary reason we chose to look last year at options outside the NV Energy system. While we may have been able to find energy in the market at a better price, I am pleased with what NV Energy has delivered as a solution to our needs,” said Rob Roy, Switch Founder and CEO. “We are especially pleased to be creating added value for NV Energy’s other customers by our monetization of the energy credits from the new Switch Station. The money we are paying for this renewable energy will flow back to and directly benefit all southern Nevada customers of NV Energy.”    

“Rob Roy and his team at Switch have built a world-class technology and innovation business that we are proud to partner with,” said Paul Caudill, NV Energy President and CEO. “Our discussions about how best to serve Switch’s exciting, growing business with clean, renewable energy began last year.  It is important to note that the new grid-tied Switch Station will be constructed and operated at costs that are being recognized industry-wide as among the lowest seen in the United States. We are pleased to have worked with Switch, and received support from the PUCN Regulatory Operations Staff, to come up with a solution that allows Switch to grow in Nevada with 100 percent renewable energy.”

“I am unbelievably impressed with the new senior leadership that Paul Caudill has brought to NV Energy. His vision and focus on customer service will be a huge benefit to enabling the ‘New Nevada Economy,’” said Roy.

About Switch

Switch, the developer of SUPERNAP data centers, is the revolutionary technology solutions company led by inventor and solutionist Rob Roy. As Founder and CEO he holds 218 patents and patents pending that have produced an essential and future forward transformation in data center architecture, engineering, technology and operations. His vision also resulted in the creation of CORE, the world’s only $3 trillion

independent carrier purchasing cooperative, and the highly respected “Truth in Technology” operating ideology.

Designed by Rob Roy, the Switch award-winning Tier IV Gold SUPERNAP data centers are certified as the highest-ranking data centers in the world and are maintained by the highest-rated mission critical operations team. With more on-net, independent cloud providers than any other physical cloud gateway, SUPERNAP connects thousands of clients and providers from within the facility. SUPERNAP is the recognized world leader in colocation design, development and mission critical operations. Learn more at supernap.com.

About NV Energy

NV Energy, Inc. provides a wide range of energy services to 1.3 million customers throughout Nevada and nearly 40 million tourists annually.  NV Energy is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company, are doing business as NV Energy. The company is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. Information about NV Energy is available on the company’s website, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages, which can be accessed via nvenergy.com/business.

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