Citadel Solar in Storey County is anticipated to invest $61 million in Nevada along with creating 96 construction jobs and six operational jobs as a result of a $13 million abatement from the Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy.
Citadel Solar was one of five abatements issued by GOE in 2021. GOE approved partial sales and use tax and partial property tax abatements to five renewable energy companies under the Renewable Energy Tax Abatement program. The anticipated investment from the five companies is near $1.6 billion.
The projects will create an estimated 853 construction jobs and 29 permanent jobs and add 1,166 megawatts of renewable energy capacity to Nevada’s existing capacity of just under 5,000 MW.
The four other companies approved for abatements in 2021 include:
Dry Lake Solar, in Clark County, was approved in January 2021 to receive $36.5 million in abatements and will invest an anticipated $343 million and provide 195 construction jobs and two operational jobs.
Gemini Solar, in Clark County, was approved in February 2021 to receive $121 million in abatements and will invest an anticipated $1 billion and provide 422 construction jobs and six operational jobs.
North Valley Power Plant, in Washoe County, was approved in October 2021 to receive $10,934,530 in abatements and will invest an anticipated $124 million and provide 38 construction jobs and 13 operational jobs.
Boulder Flats Solar, in Clark County, was approved in November 2021 to receive $7 million in abatements and will invest an anticipated $42.7 million and provide 102 construction jobs and two operational jobs.
In addition, two previously approved projects began construction in 2021: Fish Springs Solar and Yellow Pine Solar.
Per Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 701A, abated companies are required operate in the states for at least 10 years with a production capacity of at least 10 MW. In addition, abated companies are required to hire at least 50 percent of employees who are Nevada residents and provide hourly wages that are at least 110 percent of the average statewide hourly wage, for operational jobs, and 175 percent above the statewide hourly wage for construction jobs.
GOE administers Nevada’s renewable energy tax abatements (RETA), which came under GOE’s jurisdiction in 2011. The program awards partial sales and use tax (over three-year periods) and partial property tax abatements (over 20-year periods) to eligible renewable energy facilities. GOE reviews abatement applications, conducts public hearings to determine eligibility, and reviews annual compliance reports after abatements have been granted.
