Nevada officials to break ground on transmission project to meet surging data center power demands
Nevada officials are breaking ground on the Core Upgrades Project, a 155-mile power-line and substation upgrade in Clark and Nye counties, developed by GridLiance West. The project aims to add up to 1 gigawatt of capacity to meet the surging electricity demand, largely driven by data centers. Governor Joe Lombardo and other officials are attending the groundbreaking, with construction expected to finish in late 2027.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, along with federal, state, and local officials, is scheduled to attend a groundbreaking ceremony today at Jean Airport for the Core Upgrades Project. Developed by GridLiance West, the project involves replacing aging transmission lines and constructing or upgrading substations across Clark and Nye counties to enhance Southern Nevada's electricity infrastructure.
This 155-mile power-line and substation upgrade is designed to add up to 1 gigawatt of capacity and create additional routes for power delivery. GridLiance West anticipates construction to be completed by late 2027, with the upgraded system becoming operational by 2028.
The initiative comes as Nevada prepares for a significant increase in electricity demand, primarily driven by the proliferation of data centers. NV Energy's 2026 Integrated Resource Plan identified potential new electricity demand of approximately 22,000 megawatts, with data centers projected to account for 20% of Nevada's electricity consumption by 2030, a substantial increase from 8.69% in 2023.
The Bureau of Land Management approved the project in June following a federal environmental review that began in August 2023. GridLiance West, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Transmission, plans to utilize existing utility corridors and rights-of-way where possible to minimize environmental and visual impacts on the approximately 4,900 acres of federal public land affected in Clark and Nye counties. Governor Lombardo has emphasized transmission development as a key part of his energy agenda, having recently signed a bipartisan agreement with other Western governors to coordinate regional grid planning.