Who is GridLiance West?

GridLiance West currently owns and operates 167 miles of 230 kV transmission lines and related substation infrastructure in Nevada. GridLiance West is a subsidiary of GridLiance, a transmission-only utility company that owns and operates more than 700 miles of transmission lines and substations in Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Nevada and Oklahoma. The company’s investments in infrastructure upgrades are critical to improving the resiliency and reliability of the electric grid.
 

What is the GridLiance West Core Upgrades Project?

To replace the aging infrastructure, 170 miles of 230 kV and 500 kV transmission lines will be constructed from the Sloan Canyon substation to the Northwest substation, running through Clark and Nye counties. Along the route, substations and other related transmission infrastructure will be upgraded.
 

Why is this project needed?

The regional transmission operator identified a need to make upgrades to existing lines because of their age and limited capacity. Overall, these projects will increase power reliability in the region.
 

What are the benefits of this project?

These upgrades will enhance the resiliency and reliability of the electric grid in Nevada. In addition, these important upgrades will expand transmission capacity, which could spur further economic development.
 

Where is the energy coming from and where is it going?

The Trout Canyon – Sloan Canyon and Trout Canyon – Northwest lines are located in Nevada’s Clark and Nye counties. These upgrades are meant to improve the reliability of the electric grid in Nevada. Nevada customers will be the first to receive the power carried by these upgraded lines.
 

What government approvals will be required before construction begins?

Federal, state and county permits and approvals will be required to support construction of the line, including environmental permits.
 

Will these changes lead to an increase in renewable energy projects in the area?

These transmission systems are considered to be aging infrastructure nearing the end of their useful lives. The main purpose of these upgrades is to ensure continuity of service when the lines are retired and to mitigate current transmission constraints.
 

The lines are located near the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and the Desert National Wildlife Range. Will you be interfering with the natural habitat of these areas?

The Trout Canyon – Sloan Canyon and Trout Canyon – Northwest lines already exist. In some cases, we will be building adjacent to existing structures. GridLiance West is committed to environmental protection and stewardship. Rigorous environmental impact analyses will be conducted to ensure necessary environmental protections are implemented prior to and during construction.
 

What will they look like?

The full design parameters are still being developed. At this stage, we are working closely with landowners to acquire the necessary easement options. We expect a right-of-way width of approximately 275 feet, and we expect to use lattice towers or steel monopole structures that are between 100 and 245 feet tall. We will use the most compact and cost-effective design parameters to minimize environmental impacts, visual impacts and impacts to existing land use.
 

What impact will the upgrades have during construction?

We will strive to minimize impacts from construction by collaborating closely with local officials and the local community. We will proactively reach out to the local community to provide updates on construction that could affect them.

Who is GridLiance West?

GridLiance West currently owns and operates 167 miles of 230 kV transmission lines and related substation infrastructure in Nevada. GridLiance West is a subsidiary of GridLiance, a transmission-only utility company that owns and operates more than 700 miles of transmission lines and substations in Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Nevada and Oklahoma. The company’s investments in infrastructure upgrades are critical to improving the resiliency and reliability of the electric grid.
 

What is the GridLiance West Johnnie Corner – Beatty Upgrade Project?

To replace the aging infrastructure, a new 230 kV transmission line will be built adjacent to the existing 138 kV line from the Johnnie Corner substation to the Beatty substation in Nye County. Along the route, substations and other related transmission infrastructure will be upgraded.
 

Where is the energy coming from and where is it going?

The Johnnie Corner – Beatty line is located in Nye County, Nevada. These upgrades are meant to improve the reliability of the electric grid in Nevada. Nevada customers will be the first to receive the power carried by these upgraded lines.
 

Why is this project needed?

The regional transmission operator identified a need to make upgrades to existing lines because of their age and limited capacity. Overall, this project will increase power reliability in the region.
 

What are the benefits of this project?

These upgrades will enhance the resiliency and reliability of the electric grid in Nevada. In addition, expanded transmission capacity could spur further economic development.
 

What government approvals will be required before construction begins?

Federal, state and county permits and approvals will be required to support construction of the line, including environmental permits.
 

Will these changes lead to an increase in renewable energy projects in the area?

These transmission systems are considered to be outdated infrastructure nearing the end of their useful lives. The main purpose of these upgrades is to ensure continuity of service when the lines are retired and to mitigate current transmission constraints.
 

What will they look like?

The full design parameters are still being developed. At this stage, we are working closely with landowners to acquire the necessary easement options. We expect a right-of-way width of approximately 275 feet, and we expect to use lattice towers or steel monopole structures that are between 100 and 245 feet tall. We will use the most compact and cost-effective design parameters to minimize environmental impacts, visual impacts and impacts to existing land use.
 

Will there be a lot of water used to construct and maintain these projects?

During construction, water use will be limited to dust suppression. Water is not used during the operation and maintenance of transmission lines once they are in service.
 

A new line is being built next to the existing line. Why can’t you add new lines to the existing structures?

While the existing lines are nearing the end of their useful lives, the Johnnie Corner – Beatty line does not need to be retired at this time. By paralleling the line, the new system will be able to serve the load when the existing lines do reach the end of their useful lives. It’s important to note that our main goal is to minimize any disturbance to local landowners by leveraging existing rights-of-way and coordinating with local communities and infrastructure owners, such as Valley Electric and the Department of Transportation.
 

What will be the environmental impact of these transmission upgrades? 

GridLiance West is cooperating with relevant federal, state and local regulatory agencies to ensure the project is designed, constructed and operated in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and management policies. GridLiance West is committed to environmental protection and stewardship. We conduct rigorous environmental analyses to ensure we appropriately locate transmission lines and implement best practices to limit our impact on wildlife, sensitive habitats and other natural resources. We require any vendors we work with to do the same.
 

What impact will the upgrades have during construction?

We will strive to minimize impacts from construction, including collaborating closely with local officials and the local community. We will proactively reach out to the local community to provide updates on construction that could affect them. We will also follow best management practices.