U.S. Department of Energy advances major transmission project with Great Basin Transmission

The U.S. Department of Energy‘s Grid Deployment Office has announced that Great Basin Transmission, LLC (GBT), a subsidiary of LS Power, has been selected to enter into capacity contract negotiations for the Southwest Intertie Project-North (SWIP-North). This significant development highlights the U.S. government’s commitment to enhancing the nation’s power infrastructure through strategic partnerships and innovative financing. SWIP-North, a robust $1+ billion project, involves constructing a 285-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line connecting Idaho and Nevada, designed to facilitate the bidirectional flow of approximately 2,000 megawatts of electricity.

SWIP-North aims to provide a critical link between the Midpoint substation near Twin Falls, Idaho, and the Robinson Summit substation near Ely, Nevada. This project is not only pivotal for increasing grid reliability but also for integrating thousands of megawatts of renewable energy resources currently under development in the region. By improving transmission access, SWIP-North will help meet the growing electricity demands of the West, support regional climate goals, and foster economic development through the creation of new renewable energy generation.

The concept for an inter-regional transmission project such as SWIP-North dates back to the 1980s, with LS Power acquiring rights to the project in 2005. Since then, LS Power has successfully developed key components of the transmission corridor including the One Nevada Transmission Line and DesertLink, both critical infrastructures that have already begun serving the region’s needs since their completion.

Once operational, SWIP-North, together with existing projects like ON Line and DesertLink, will enhance the overall resilience of the Western U.S. electric grid. The project is expected to reduce congestion, increase resilience against extreme weather and wildfire events, and support the development of renewable energy resources. Additionally, the construction phase is set to create hundreds of jobs in partnership with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1245, generating significant economic benefits through local tax revenues.

Paul Thessen, President of LS Power Development, expressed the project’s benefits, stating, “SWIP-North will deliver economic benefits and strengthen the electric grid in the western U.S., while also connecting renewable energy resources to customers that need them.” Similarly, Paul Segal, CEO of LS Power, emphasized the project’s role in building a clean energy system that enhances affordability, sustainability, and reliability across the nation.

Maria Robinson, Director of the U.S. DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, highlighted the broader implications of such investments, saying, “Investing in the grid means getting more power to more people in more places and DOE is using all of the tools in the toolbox to make that happen.”

Scheduled to begin construction in 2025 and expected to be completed by 2027, SWIP-North is poised to play a crucial role in advancing critical infrastructure and clean, reliable power across the country. This project underlines the DOE’s strategy to leverage both private capital and public financing to modernize America’s power grid and ensure a sustainable energy future.