Liberty Utilities is looking for permission from the California Public Utilities Commission to build two solar projects in Nevada; one in Minden, the other in Mineral County.

The renewable energy would be transmitted to Liberty’s California customers, which includes the Lake Tahoe Basin and Truckee, via NV Energy’s transmission lines. Liberty buys most of its energy from NV. The solar plants would make it less dependent on NV Energy and help meet future mandates from California in regards to renewables.

The Minden Sunrise Solar Project would be a 20 MW solar photovoltaic project at 760 Muller Lane.  The site is adjacent a wastewater treatment facility.

The Luning Solar Energy Center would be a 40 MW solar photovoltaic project located near Luning in Mineral County on Bureau of Land Management land.

Pending CPUC approval, Liberty intends to enter a contract with Greenstone and SunPower for the Minden project, and Invenergy for the Luning project.  Construction is expected to begin in early 2016 and operational by end of that year.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report