LAS VEGAS, April 22, 2015 – NV Energy recently filed its 2014 Renewable Portfolio Standard Annual Report with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, and the report shows that electricity customers are increasingly benefitting from renewable energy and renewable energy credits.

Both in northern and southern Nevada, NV Energy exceeded the state’s 18 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard requirement for 2014, which is based on total energy sales. Specifically, NV Energy’s northern Nevada operating company achieved a 33.6 percent renewable energy and renewable energy credit level, and southern Nevada achieved a 20.2 percent renewable portfolio standard.

NV Energy’s Vice President of Renewable Energy and Origination Stacey Kusters said, "the company is pleased with its renewable energy growth in recent years, which in 2014 exceeded Nevada’s renewable portfolio standard.”

Two large solar projects began commercial operation in 2014, which enhanced the company’s renewable energy portfolio last year.  Those two projects include the 20-megawatt Mountain View solar array north of Las Vegas and the 17.5-megawatt Searchlight Solar project near Searchlight, Nevada. Combined, those two projects can provide enough power to serve more than 22,000 homes.

Kusters said, “We are also optimistic that 2015 will be a strong renewable energy growth year for NV Energy,” noting that the 48-megawatt expansion at the McGinness Hills Geothermal plant came on line in February; the 110-megawatt Crescent Dunes Solar project near Tonopah is expected to be operational mid-Summer; and the NV Energy-owned 15-megawatt Nellis Solar Array II project is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. 

Additionally, NV Energy has issued two requests for proposals for up to 200 megawatts of incremental renewable energy in Nevada.

“This will provide energy diversification at a time of decreasing solar costs and new jobs in Nevada to further economic growth in the State,” Kusters said. She noted that proposals selected through these requests for proposals will be presented to the Public Utilities Commission for approval later this year, with the expectation that both projects will be built before the end of 2016.

Separately, the company recently issued another opportunity for companies to bid on projects that would provide for 54 megawatts of planning capacity that could be filled with a renewable energy resource by 2018.

The Renewable Portfolio Standard requirement continues to climb, as state law requires the utility to achieve a 20 percent threshold in 2015, which jumps to 22 percent in 2020, and caps at 25 percent in 2025.

Currently, NV Energy customers are benefitting from nearly 40 renewable energy projects in Nevada, which include geothermal energy producers, solar energy resources, a large wind farm, and numerous small hydro, landfill and biomass projects.  

About NV Energy, Inc.

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, do business as NV Energy. NV Energy 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.

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