Geothermal Rising Letter of Support for Greenlink

February 19, 2021

Public Utilities Commission of Nevada
1150 E. William Street
Carson City, NV 89701-3109

Re: 20-07023: NPC/SPPC's Integrated Resource Plan 4th Amendment

Honorable Commissioners and Staff:

We are writing on behalf of the Geothermal Rising Policy Committee (GRPC) to urge you to approve NV Energy’s proposal for the Greenlink Nevada transmission line.

Geothermal Rising is a non-profit organization supporting communication of robust research, knowledge, and guidance in geothermal energy in the United States and around the globe. Founded in 1972, we are the largest direct-membership professional and trade association serving the geothermal industry, with over 1,300 members representing a broad and diverse demographic from across the geothermal community. Our members include individuals, corporations, universities, national laboratories, government, and other non-governmental organizations.

The Greenlink Nevada project is critical both to meet unprecedented load growth in northern Nevada as well as the state’s net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 policy. Most important for the state’s geothermal industry is the fact that the project will open the door for new development of renewable energy projects in previously inaccessible areas in western and northern Nevada and will open a route to California and other Western states for these projects.

The Greenlink Nevada transmission initiative will allow renewable developers to bring the economic benefits of large utility-scale renewable energy projects to Nevada, including job creation, tax revenue and low-cost, clean energy. Aside from the substantial economic activity and job growth Greenlink Nevada will support, this project will help Nevada meet future customer energy demands and will provide additional transmission capacity, improved system reliability and greater transfer capacity within the state and to other Western states.

Thank you for your consideration. If you have any further questions, we can be reached at wpettitt@mygeoenergy.org.

Sincerely,

Paul Thomsen, Geothermal Rising Policy Committee Chair

Will Pettitt, Geothermal Rising Executive Director