Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has signed a Record of Decision (ROD) for the First Solar Inc. Silver State North Solar Project, the first large-scale solar energy project on U.S. public lands in Nevada. The 50 MW AC / 60 MW DC solar facility and associated infrastructure will be built in the Ivanpah Valley, 40 miles south of Las Vegas.
The first phase of Silver State will consist of the construction and operation of a solar photovoltaic plant, including associated facilities, on 618 acres of public lands. The electricity generated from this plant will be sold to the Nevada market via a power purchase agreement with NV Energy and will connect into NV Energy's existing electrical grid.
‘Silver State is one of several renewable energy projects in the pipeline that will help Nevada and the nation create jobs as we build a clean energy economy,’ Secretary Salazar said in signing the ROD. ‘This project will provide renewable energy that will help meet our nation's growing demand as we strive to become energy independent.’
First Solar plans to construct up to an additional 350 MW at the site, which will require additional environmental review and analysis.
The ROD and right-of-way grant and conditions for Silver State Solar Power North LLC are available here.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of the Interior
