Lombardo Breaks Ground on 155-Mile Nevada Power Line Feeding Data Center Boom
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo broke ground on the GridLiance West Core Upgrades Project, a 155-mile transmission line intended to add 1 gigawatt of capacity to the state's electric grid for future growth, including data centers. This infrastructure project spans Clark and Nye counties, with construction expected to finish by late 2027. However, Nye County's Pahrump water board is pushing for a moratorium on new data centers due to concerns about water and power demands.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, joined by federal, state, and local leaders, broke ground on the GridLiance West Core Upgrades Project at Jean Airport. This significant transmission overhaul involves constructing approximately 155 miles of new transmission lines and upgrading substations across Clark and Nye counties, aiming to add about 1 gigawatt of capacity to Nevada's electric grid by 2028. The project, estimated to create 500 construction jobs and generate $90 million in tax revenue, is designed to replace aging infrastructure and meet the state's rapidly growing energy demand, largely driven by data center development.
The groundbreaking follows a lengthy federal review, with the Bureau of Land Management approving the project in June 2026. Heavy electrical gear for the substations has been arriving since late 2025. GridLiance West, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Transmission, operates the Southern Nevada system, which is functionally controlled by the California Independent System Operator, linking Nevada's grid to California's wholesale energy market.
Data centers currently account for 5% of NV Energy's statewide retail electricity sales but are projected to represent 64% by 2046, highlighting the massive demand driving this buildout. Despite the Core Upgrades Project's substantial capacity addition, it is considered an incremental step given the 22,000 megawatts of potential new electricity demand identified by NV Energy's 2026 Integrated Resource Plan. The increased demand and infrastructure development have sparked opposition, particularly in Nye County, where the Pahrump water board has advocated for a moratorium on new data centers due to concerns about water and power resources. Governor Lombardo has also been actively involved in policy initiatives, signing a bipartisan agreement to streamline regulatory processes for Western transmission expansion and supporting other large infrastructure projects tied to data center growth.