Key Project Characteristics:
- 100 MW of clean, renewable and sustainable energy
- Highly predictable and dependable fuel supply: 95% availability, 100% dispatchability, load following
- Executed Power Purchase Agreement with NV Energy
- Participating in the Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Guarantee program
- Possible American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding (ARRA)
Key Project Benefits:
The Cresent Dunes Solar Energy Project will enhance the local economy by creating new ‘green’ jobs, generating additional tax revenue, and boosting revenue for local businesses.
- Help meet growing demand for clean, renewable energy sources.
- Incorporate energy storage which provides operating stability for the electricity grid and a cost-effective way to meet California’s peak electricity demand profile.
- Boost the local economy by creating up to 450 construction jobs and up to 50 permanent operating jobs, and also significant property tax revenues that will benefit the local community and region.
Quick Facts:
Location: |
Northwest of Tonopah, NV |
|---|---|
Technology: |
Concentrating Solar Thermal with Storage |
Size: |
110 MW |
Water Use: |
less than 600 Acre-feet/year |
Site: |
~1,600 Acres, BLM-managed land |
Transmission: |
9.5 miles |
Fuel: |
Sunlight |
Solar Facility Key Elements:
- Large circular field of mirrors (heliostats) that reflect the sun’s energy onto a central receiver tower
- A conventional steam turbine generator to produce electricity
- Insulated tanks to store the hot and cold liquid salt heat transfer fluid
- A hybrid cooling system which will enhance performance during peak electricity demand periods while reducing water consumption significantly, relative to wet cooling systems
- Executed Power Purchase Agreement with NV Energy
- Participating in the Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Guarantee program
- Possible American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding (ARRA)
Project Economic Benefits:
- Hundreds of millions in capital cost investment in Nevada.
- Up to 450 construction jobs over 30-month construction period.
- Millions in annual operating budget, much of which will be spent in the region.
Approvals needed to construct the project:
The BLM must provide authorization to allow the project to be constructed on public land. In order to grant authorization, the BLM, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, requires preparation of a detailed environmental impact statement (EIS). The EIS will assess the environmental impacts of the project and all associated linear facilities and/or connected facilities (such as new access roads, new transmission lines and/or upgraded utility transmission lines).
A solar project such as this with a large area of disturbance will require preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (“EIS”) in which all potential project impacts to land, water, air, and biological species will be evaluated as well as alternatives, social, cultural, and economic factors. The public is given several opportunities to comment on the project and EIS during the EIS process. After the EIS is finalized, a Record of Decision is prepared to document the selected alternative to be developed and any mitigation measures. A long-term ROW grant would then be issued to allow construction of the project facilities to proceed.