Given the recent economic turmoil in our state and the nation as a whole, devising a means of economic stimulus and stemming the tide of job loss is at the forefront of our minds. Right on time, the Dixie Meadows geothermal project is focused on supporting Nevada both in terms of reaching the state’s ambitious clean energy goals and providing job opportunities for Nevadans to immediately bolster our state’s economic recovery.
Development of Ormat Technologies’ 30 MW Dixie Meadows geothermal project will require a $270 million capital investment in Churchill County and produce $4 million annually in operations, taxes, and royalties. The project will employ over 300 construction and operations workers through construction and permanent employment.
In 2019 the Nevada Senate voted unanimously to update Nevada's renewable portfolio standard (RPS). The law that sets the minimum amount of electricity that big Nevada electricity providers must get from clean, renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal. This new state-of-the-art Dixie Meadows facility will provide additional electricity for 22,000 homes while offsetting 4 million tons of CO2, providing the highest level of efficiency and safety in the renewable energy industry while bringing us one step closer to reaching Nevada’s goal of seeing 50 percent of the state’s electricity come from clean, renewable energy by 2030.
While the economic impact of this renewable clean energy project is of critical importance, it won’t come at the expense of the environment. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in coordination with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the U.S. Navy, Naval Air Station Fallon required environmental protection and mitigation measures for the project including the development of an Aquatic Resources Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (ARMMP), which will help ensure that significant adverse effects on aquatic resources, riparian and wetland habitat, and aquatic special status species does not occur.
This plan was developed by Ormat with assistance from the above agencies to minimize the environmental footprint and social and cultural impact of the project. After extensive collection of baseline data, and the inclusion of the mitigation measures and ongoing environmental monitoring tactics throughout the life of the project, this plan alleviates any concerns that CEDA may have had.
Sustainable clean energy projects like these have a profound economic impact on host communities, providing new streams of revenue to fund essential services, such as schools. Churchill County welcomes the economic development opportunities and homegrown energy provided by the Dixie Meadows project. After so much economic loss, we’re looking forward to putting a mark in the “win” column – right on time, and right for Churchill County and the state of Nevada.
Sara Beebe is director of the Churchill Economic Development Authority which is responsible for attracting, retaining and developing business and industry to benefit Fallon and Churchill County.
