Quality of Life Indicators
renewable energy data
renewable energy sources
In 1997, Nevada lawmakers moved to require the state’s largest electric utilities to acquire power from renewable resources, such as geothermal, wind, solar, biomass, landfill gas, and waste heat recovery. Originally the goal was for 1% of the energy they sell to customers to come from these sources by 2010. In 2001 the state toughened the standard significantly, making the requirement 15% by 2013, and in 2005 lawmakers raised the bar again, requiring 20% by 2015. The Renewable Portfolio Standard has been fully supported by Sierra Pacific Resources as a responsible move for this growing state. Sierra Pacific Power currently lists 579 megawatts generated from 36 renewable energy sources (2006 peak load was 1,701 megawatts). As of July 2007, 20.97% of their average fuel mix was from renewable sources. Nevada is expected to rank first in the nation in solar watts per capita and solar as a percentage of retail sales in 2008, with the Nevada Solar One10-megawatt project at Nellis Air Force Base, the largest solar-photovoltaic project in the country. Sierra Pacific also participates with the Desert Research Institute to provide GreenPower solar and wind generators at 15 schools participating in the program. Efforts will be made to report the amount of renewable energy used by customers in the future, as well as what customers are selling back to the utility.