Beatrice Lang
Las Vegas is a city with a huge power demand, with its bright lights and large casinos. In 2016, it was announced that the city government of Las Vegas would be powered entirely by renewable energy, with electricity coming from solar panels and hydroelectric turbines, including the Hoover Dam. However, this only covers a tiny fraction of the city's overall energy consumption, with the majority of the city's power coming from natural gas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electricity Provider | NV Energy |
| Number of Customers | 1.2 million (excluding 43 million tourists annually) |
| Territory | Over 4,000 square miles |
| Power Source | National electrical grid |
| Number of Power Plants | More than 6,000 |
| Power Plants Style | Different styles, including natural gas, solar, and hydroelectric |
| Peak Load (North) | 1,824 megawatts |
| Peak Load (South) | 5,929 megawatts |
| City Government Power Source | Renewable energy, including solar and hydroelectric |
| Hoover Dam Electricity Generation | 4 billion megawatts annually |
| Percentage of Hoover Dam Electricity Consumed by Las Vegas | 5% |
| Other Power Plants | Boulder Solar 1, Chuck Lenzie, Walter M. Higgins Generating Station, Mohave Power Station, Silverhawk Power Station, Reid Gardner Generating Station |
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What You'll Learn
Las Vegas' energy mix
The energy mix in Las Vegas is diverse and constantly evolving. The city has a high energy demand, with its bright lights and large casinos, and serves over 1.2 million customers, in addition to a tourist population of 43 million annually.
Historical Sources of Energy
Historically, the Hoover Dam was a significant source of electricity for Las Vegas, and it continues to provide about 355 megawatts to the Nevada Power system. However, as the city's energy needs grew, they exceeded what the dam could provide, and other sources became necessary.
Fossil Fuels
Natural gas is the largest source of electricity generation in Nevada, with the state's largest power plant by capacity and generation being natural gas-fired. Additionally, the state has several natural gas-fired power plants, such as the Chuck Lenzie plant and the Silverhawk Power Station, which contribute to the energy mix in Las Vegas.
Coal-fired power plants, such as the Reid Gardner Generating Station, also contribute to the energy mix, although the Mohave Power Station, a coal-fired plant, was shut down in 2005.
Renewable Energy
Las Vegas has been actively transitioning towards renewable energy sources. In 2016, the city government announced that it would be powered entirely by renewable energy, primarily through solar panels and hydroelectric turbines, including the Hoover Dam. The Boulder Solar 1 project, which came online in 2018, is a significant step towards this goal.
However, it is important to note that the city government's energy consumption is a small fraction of the overall city's energy usage. The commercial sector, including the Las Vegas Strip, consumes about one-third of the state's electricity, and the residential sector consumes nearly two-fifths.
Energy Exports
Nevada's electricity generation typically exceeds its consumption, and the state exports electricity to neighbouring states through high-voltage transmission lines.
In summary, the Las Vegas energy mix is currently dominated by natural gas, with significant contributions from renewable sources, and a decreasing reliance on coal-fired power plants. The city is actively transitioning towards renewable energy, with goals set for 2030 and beyond.
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Electricity suppliers
Las Vegas is a huge consumer of power, with its bright lights, casinos, and heavy use of air conditioning. The main electricity supplier for Las Vegas is NV Energy, which has 1.2 million customers and a territory of over 4,000 square miles. The city is divided into Northern and Southern sectors, with peak loads of 1,824 megawatts in the north and 5,929 megawatts in the south. Power is drawn from the national electrical grid, with more than 6,000 power generation plants supplying electricity.
Las Vegas has a large number of power plants of different styles, including natural gas-fired plants, solar arrays, and hydroelectric sources such as the Hoover Dam. The Hoover Dam has been a source of power for Nevada since 1937, and it provides about 355 megawatts to the Nevada Power system. However, contrary to popular belief, Las Vegas does not get most of its power from the dam. In fact, other states consume approximately 95% of the electricity produced by the dam.
While Las Vegas is increasing its use of renewable energy sources, it is not yet close to running entirely on renewable energy. Natural gas generates four times the electricity of renewables for the state, and Nevada's largest power plant by capacity and generation is natural gas-fired. However, the city government of Las Vegas has achieved the goal of powering its needs with 100% renewable energy, thanks to a large solar array, Boulder Solar 1, which came online in December 2018.
Nevada's in-state electricity generation typically exceeds consumption, and supplies are exported to other states over high-voltage transmission lines. Prior to 2014, two separate transmission grids provided power to Nevada: one in the southern part of the state supplying Las Vegas, and one in the north supplying communities including Elko and Reno. In 2014, the One Nevada transmission project connected the two grids, running the length of the state in eastern Nevada.
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Power plants
Las Vegas has a large number of power plants of different styles. The city's power provider, NV Energy, had 1.2 million customers in 2017, in addition to a tourist population of 43 million annually. The city is divided into Northern and Southern sectors, which see peak loads of 1,824 megawatts in the north and 5,929 megawatts in the south. Power is drawn from the national electrical grid, with more than 6,000 power generation plants supplying electricity.
The Hoover Dam generates more than 4 billion megawatts of electricity annually, but other states consume approximately 95% of the production. The dam provides about 355 megawatts to the Nevada Power system, but contrary to popular belief, Las Vegas does not get most of its power from the dam.
In 2016, it was reported that Las Vegas was now drawing 100% of its power from renewable energy sources, but this was misleading. While the city government of Las Vegas was indeed able to power its needs with renewable power, the city as a whole was not. The city's energy consumption is a tiny fraction of the overall energy consumption of the whole city.
In 2016, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that the 3.3 million megawatt hours (MWh) that Nevada generated in September 2016 came primarily (>70%) from natural gas. With natural gas generating four times the electricity of renewables for the state, it is not mathematically possible for Las Vegas to be running entirely on renewables.
Las Vegas has a number of power plants, including:
- Chuck Lenzie (1,102 megawatts - 4 natural gas-fired units) located north of Las Vegas
- Walter M. Higgins Generating Station (530 megawatts) – a natural gas peaking plant located near Primm, Nevada
- Mohave Power Station (1,580 megawatts, 222 megawatts Nevada Power's share, coal-fired) – shut down on December 31, 2005, and dismantling began in 2009
- Silverhawk Power Station (520 megawatts) – a natural gas-fired power plant located north of Las Vegas that is 25% co-owned by the Southern Nevada Water Authority
- Reid Gardner Generating Station (557 megawatts) – a coal-fired plant located near Moapa, Nevada, and 31% co-owned by the California Department of Water Resources
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Renewable energy goals
Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, is also one of America's solar power capitals. The city has taken several steps to promote renewable energy adoption and is actively lobbying in favour of utility-scale and distributed generation, greater Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), and net metering. The city has set an ambitious goal of using 100% renewable energy to power city operations.
The city of Las Vegas has a partnership with NV Energy, from which it receives 100% of its energy needs from renewable sources, including solar installations. The city has also implemented programs to promote renewable energy goals, such as Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing for commercial energy efficiency improvements and solar installations. The city has also partnered with NV Energy to create covered solar parking at Freedom Park.
In addition to the city's efforts, private companies in Las Vegas are also embracing renewable energy. MGM Resorts International, for example, has its own 100-megawatt solar array powering 13 properties in Las Vegas, while Resorts World is powered by 100% renewable energy. Allegiant Stadium, home of the Raiders, is the first NFL stadium powered by 100% renewable energy.
Las Vegas has set a goal to reduce regional energy consumption by 80% below 2019 levels by 2050 and to use renewable energy to power 50% of community electricity by 2030 and 100% by 2050. The state of Nevada has a similar goal, with a requirement that at least 50% of the electricity sold to customers must be generated from renewable sources by 2030.
Las Vegas is a leader in solar energy adoption, with the second-highest installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity per capita in the United States. The city has been designated a "Solar Superstar," with over 100 watts of solar PV capacity installed per capita.
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Power outages
Las Vegas is a major consumer of power, with the city's bright lights, heavy air conditioning usage, and large casino complexes contributing to its high energy demands. While the city typically has a stable power supply, power outages can and do occur, impacting residents, businesses, and visitors.
Casinos, which are integral to the city's economy, are particularly vulnerable to power outages. When casinos lose power, they face immediate revenue losses from gambling, hotel bookings, and restaurant operations. Safety concerns are also heightened, as backup generators may fail or be insufficient to power critical systems. In December 2017, a fire in a service elevator at the Rio casino resulted in a power outage. While a backup generator was available, it was shorted out by water from the sprinkler system, demonstrating the complexities of power outages and the challenges of ensuring uninterrupted power supply.
To mitigate the impact of power outages, some facilities in Las Vegas have invested in off-grid power plants or standby generators. For example, the city center hotel and casino complex has its own off-grid power plant to ensure a continuous supply of electricity. However, not all businesses or residences may have the resources or capability to implement such measures, leaving them vulnerable to power disruptions.
Overall, while Las Vegas typically enjoys a reliable power supply, power outages remain a concern. The city's high energy consumption and the potential consequences of outages underscore the importance of resilient energy infrastructure and emergency preparedness to minimize disruptions and safeguard the well-being of residents and visitors.
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Frequently asked questions
Las Vegas's electricity comes from a variety of sources, including natural gas, solar power, and the Hoover Dam.
While Las Vegas has made strides in renewable energy, it is not yet close to running entirely on renewable sources. In 2016, it was reported that over 70% of Nevada's energy came from natural gas, with the state generating 3.3 million megawatt-hours.
Natural gas is the primary source of electricity generation for Nevada, with 8 of the state's 10 largest power plants being natural gas-fired.
