690 MW Solar Project In US Closer To Securing Approvals

• BLM has published the final environmental impact assessment for the proposed 690 MW Gemini Solar Project in Nevada
• It is now seeking final feedback on the project and will be accepting comments till January 27, 2020
• Project on securing approval will be funded by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, and built and operated by Solar Partners XI LLC (Arevia)

The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has published its final environmental impact statement report for the proposed 690 MW (AC) Gemini Solar Project which is now open for final feedback from interested stakeholders. It will accept comments till January 27, 2020.   

What this means for the giant project is that post this date it could finally see the light of the day, a huge thing under US President Donald Trump administration that is very negative on renewable energy.

"The Gemini project, if given final approval by BLM, would surpass a 579 MW solar farm in southern California that currently holds the record for the largest solar array in the United States," remarked UtilityDive. 

The project had been under consideration of the BLM since June 2019 when it was put up for public consultation by the department (see 690 MW Solar Project In US Under Consideration).

Qunbrook Infrastructure Partners will fund the project with its partner Arevia Power overseeing final development and construction stages through Solar Partners, XI LLC (Arevia). The project be built on close to 7,100 acres of BLM administered land near Las Vegas and south of the Moapa River Indian Reservation in Clark County, Nevada. It will also include a battery storage system and on completion of the project, it will feed clean power into the NV Energy grid.

"Solar Partners XI, LLC acquired an existing 44,000-acre (17,806-hectare) right-of-way application filed in 2008 by BrightSource Energy, LLC for the APEX Solar Thermal Power Generation Facility. The approximately 7,100-acre (2,873-hectare) Project would be located within the 44,000-acre (17,806-hectare) right-of-way application area," reads the BLM assessment report.

Los Angeles Times reported NV Energy will pay an average of $38.44 per MWh for the combined output of the solar panels and batteries for the project for a period of 25 years once it comes online by December 1, 2023.

Previously, EDF Renewables North America secured approval from the BLM for its 500 MW Palen Solar Project to be developed in Riverside County and has since secured corporate power purchase agreements (PPA) for the same with Southern California Edison, Shell Energy North America and the latest with CleanPowerSF (see EDF Renewables Bags Solar PPA For 100 MW In US).