Liberty on target to use more renewables

Construction has begun on Liberty Utilities’ first solar facility.

The Luning Solar Energy Center in Mineral County will be a 50 megawatt project. In addition to the solar facility, a 120 kV power line approximately 1.6 miles long will be constructed from the solar facility to NV Energy’s existing Table Mountain substation. NV Energy will then deliver the energy to delivery points within Liberty Utilities’ California service territory.

Liberty Utilities currently purchases all of its power from NV Energy, except for emergency diesel-generated power. Last year Liberty renegotiated the agreement with NV Energy to exclude coal-fired power whenever possible.

Liberty provides electricity to the California side of the Lake Tahoe Basin, as well as to Truckee and Alpine County.

Renewable resources currently comprise approximately 22 percent of Liberty’s total power mix and meet California’s current mandate, which is scheduled to increase to 33 percent by 2020 and 50 percent by 2030.