City of Las Vegas to go 100% renewable with NV Energy deal

The city of Las Vegas will use 100% renewable energy for its operations under a partnership with NV Energy Inc, unveiled on Tuesday.

A portion of the energy produced by the 100-MW Boulder solar power plant currently under development in Nevada will be dedicated to city operations. The arrangement will see every streetlight, city park, community center, fire station, service yard and public building owned by the city 100% powered by renewable energy, according to the announcement.

The deal is subject to approval by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada and ratification by the Las Vegas City Council. "If the approvals happen we will become the first city of our size in the nation to achieve 100 percent renewable energy for city operations," said Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman.

NV Energy president and chief executive Paul Caudill noted that new solar projects are "exceptionally" competitive and would not impact customer rates.

Data centres company Switch is also partnering with NV Energy. "Having the city of Las Vegas join Switch in becoming the first two entities in southern Nevada to become 100 percent renewably powered sends a powerful statement to the rest of the world," said Adam Kramer, Switch executive vice president of strategy.

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