NV Energy's proposal promotes state's energy independence

This opinion column was submitted by Robert Dean, business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1245.

Nevadans depend on electricity to light their homes, power their businesses and charge their electronics. For many, electricity is the lifeline needed to run medical equipment or keep medicine.

Yet Nevada has never faced a more serious threat to its electricity supply. When an extreme heat wave hit Western States in September, it created record energy demand in California and put extraordinary strain on the availability of electricity throughout the West. California called an energy emergency, which meant they could use energy planned for Nevada’s energy needs. NV Energy was forced to ask customers to reduce their energy use and prevent outages from happening here.

This is the new normal. The Western U.S. has experienced record-breaking temperatures, severe drought conditions and massive wildfires that impact electric infrastructure. These are all effects of climate change that California’s energy grid today cannot sustain. That puts electricity reliability at risk not just for California, but for Nevada and other Western states as well.

NV Energy recently filed a proposal with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada to ensure Nevadans have the power they need whenever they need it. The plan advances Nevada’s energy independence by adding generating resources within the state, including 24/7 geothermal energy capacity, large-scale energy storage and natural gas units designed to quickly respond to extreme energy demand. Not only will this plan add more capacity to a growing renewable energy portfolio that includes solar, geothermal and storage; the proposed peaking units allow NV Energy to integrate and dispatch these clean energy resources more effectively than today.

Electricity is critical to the health and well-being of Nevada’s working families and its economy — especially when temperatures reach triple digits. The plan NV Energy has in front of the PUCN prioritizes reliability, protects Nevada from the impacts of climate change and avoids future energy emergencies that have occurred in California and other Western states.

Robert Dean is the business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1245, which represents 1,500 members in Nevada.

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