BLM gives initial OK to transmission line route
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - The federal Bureau of Land Management has taken a step toward approving a route for a transmission line linking the southern Nevada and northern Nevada electrical grids.
Great Basin Transmission, an affiliate of independent power producer LS Power, received a finding that the line would have no significant environmental impact.
The transmission line would carry electricity some 250 miles from White Pine County to Las Vegas.
Mark Milburn, project development director for LS Power, says the company wants to build the power line even if the company doesn't build a coal-fired power plant near Ely.
He says the 500-kilovolt line, dubbed the Southwest Intertie Project, would let utility company Nevada Power Co. of Las Vegas tap power from northern Nevada geothermal energy sites.
And Sierra Pacific Power Co. of Reno would be able to get power from solar power plants in southern Nevada.
Related News
Ontario, Quebec to swap energy in new deal to help with electricity demands
TORONTO - Ontario and Quebec have agreed to swap energy to help each other out when electricity demands peak.
The provinces' electricity operators, the Independent Electricity System Operator and Hydro-Quebec, will trade up to 600 megawatts of energy each year, said Ontario Energy Minister Todd Smith.
“The deal just makes a lot of sense from both sides,” Smith said in an interview.
“The beauty as well is that Quebec and Ontario are amongst the cleanest grids around.”
The majority of Ontario's power comes from nuclear energy while the majority of Quebec's energy comes from hydroelectric power.
The deal works because Ontario and Quebec's energy peaks…
