Consolidated Edison’s $120 million Battle Mountain Solar Project in rural Northern Nevada is in place and operational despite pandemic setbacks faced by many development projects. Representatives for New York-based conEdison said the main setbacks occurred mostly from equipment delivery and the ability of construction personnel to work safely under COVID-19 restrictions. “We are happy to share that construction is complete and the project is in operation,” conEdison Clean Energy Business Asset Manager Shanon Amonette said in an email to The Humboldt Sun. “Like many companies, we encountered some challenges due to COVID, but we’re pleased that work at the site was able to continue safety and for the project to ultimately be completed.
"We’re hopeful that the successful continuation of this project brought an economic boost to the community.”
Construction on the project, which started last summer, included approximately 280 full-time employees, 55% of whom were Nevada residents.
The operation near Valmy — located a half-hour or so southeast of Winnemucca — has five full-time employees and will utilize over 100 contractors and services local to Humboldt County at full operation. The project has a life expectancy of 25 years; conEdison Government Affairs Manager Lisa Briggs previously said the project would be a $120 million capital investment. According to documents filed with the Nevada Public Utilities Commission, the project includes a 101-megawatt alternating current photovoltaic solar facility and ancillary facilities, including solar arrays and 25 MW of battery storage, the state’s largest DC-coupled combined solar battery system. The Battle Mountain Solar Project is interconnected with the NV Energy Valmy facility; the electric power generated with the project is sold to Sierra Pacific Power. “As one of the largest owners and developers of solar projects in the country, we have a history of developing successful solar projects in Nevada and throughout the U.S.,” said Amonette. “The Battle Mountain Solar Project is our first endeavor in the northern part of the state, and we are actively looking for opportunity to help Nevada meet its renewable portfolio standards targets.” The project adds to NV Energy’s portfolio of approximately 50 solar, geothermal, hydro, wind, biomass and supported rooftop solar projects. The State of Nevada’s renewable portfolio standards target is 50% by 2030.
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