The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), an IBEW Local 1245 signatory employer, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Great Basin Transmission to explore a potential partnership to develop the Southwest Intertie Project (“SWIP”) under WAPA’s authority in Section 402 of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009.
The SWIP is a 500-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line that will extend from southern Idaho through eastern Nevada to the Las Vegas area. The SWIP is intended to help unleash the significant renewable resource potential that exists within Nevada and other parts of the Western U.S.
Construction of SWIP could begin later this year, resulting in near-term and long-term jobs, significant economic benefits, and delivery of up to two gigawatts of renewable energy to the grid. Western’s participation in the SWIP is subject to final due diligence, negotiation and approval of definitive agreements between Great Basin and Western.
Great Basin is a single purpose company formed to develop, finance, construct, own, and operate the SWIP. Great Basin is wholly owned by LS Power.