Warren Buffett-owned developer NV Energy is seeking regulatory approvals for Greenlink Nevada, a multi-year project to build out new 525kV renewable energy electric transmission lines in the US state, along with three standalone large-scale solar-plus-storage projects totalling almost 500MW.

The transmission scheme will consist of several lines: Greenlink North, a 378km (235 mile) east-west line from Ely to Yerington, Nevada; Greenlink West, a 565km from Yerington to Las Vegas, and three 345kV lines from Yerington to Reno, Nevada, which together are designed to unlock development of both solar and geothermal resources in the area.

The Chuckwalla, Dry Lake and Boulder Solar III PV projects, which would have a total nameplate capacity of 478MW with 338MW of batteries, are to be built in southern Nevada with a view to powering more than 100,000 homes when in operation at the end of 2023.

Chuckwalla, a 200MW plant coupled with a 180MW four-hour battery storage system located on the Moapa River Indian reservation north east of Las Vegas, is being developed by EDF Renewables North America, which has announced a 22-year off-take deal for the project’s full capacity with NV Energy.

The 150MW Dry Lake project, which would feature a 100MW, four-hour battery, will be developed on federal public lands northeast of Las Vegas by NV Energy, part of the Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate where Buffett is CEO.

Boulder Solar III is a 128MW array that includes a 58MW, four-hour battery storage system, which will be built south of Boulder City by 174 PowerGlobal and KOMIPO America, for off-take by NV Energy.

“These three projects represent NV Energy’s continued commitment to bring the benefits of low-cost solar energy and storage to our customers,” said NV Energy CEO Doug Cannon.

NV Energy said construction of the Greenlink components through 2031 would create thousands of jobs, help support the state’s economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, and position it to achieve carbon reduction and environmental goals.

All the planned facilities are part of the utility’s Integrated Resource Plan filing with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada. It anticipates a decision later this year.

Nevada last year passed a law that set a 50% renewables mandate for electric power by 2030 and 100% from carbon-free resources by 2050.