The Energy Secretary, Jennifer Granholm, has stated that the nation needs to double the size of its electric grid in order to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. She emphasized the importance of renewable energy production in Nevada to help the country reach its goals.
Nevada currently has over 5.5 gigawatts of operational solar, wind, and storage capacity. Additionally, there are plans to add another 6 gigawatts of clean energy generation in the state, which would be enough to power 810,000 homes.
Granholm praised Nevada for being the number one state in terms of solar potential and highlighted the opportunity for the state to become a major player in renewable energy. During her visit to Las Vegas, she toured renewable energy sites and spoke with congressional representatives. She also visited Allegiant Stadium, the venue for the upcoming Super Bowl, which is powered by 100 percent renewable energy.
In addition to renewable energy, Granholm emphasized the importance of transitioning to electric vehicles and clean transportation. She stated that the nation needs to focus on lithium production and processing to achieve this transition. Nevada is home to the nation’s only functioning lithium mine and contains the largest lithium deposit at the under-construction Thacker Pass.
Granholm mentioned the significant federal loans that businesses in Nevada have received to expand lithium mining and battery production. In January 2023, she approved a loan of up to $700 million to Ioneer for the construction of the Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine. This loan is the first federal loan to a lithium mining project in the US. The Department of Energy also announced a conditional loan of $2 billion to Redwood Materials for the construction and expansion of a battery materials campus in Northern Nevada. The Redwood Materials project is the first domestic facility to offer a closed-loop lithium battery manufacturing process.
However, Granholm highlighted the need for an updated mining law in Nevada and other states with critical mineral supplies. She referred to the Mining Law of 1872, a federal law that allows valuable mineral deposits on public land to be explored and purchased without paying federal royalties. Granholm emphasized the need for sustainable mining practices and stated that the administration is interested in updating the mining law.
Despite Nevada’s role in providing critical minerals, key lawmakers in the state have opposed changes to the mining law. Former Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid opposed the bill’s reformation, citing the dependence on mining for jobs in rural Nevada. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto also successfully pushed back on a bill that would have imposed royalties on hardrock mining to fund abandoned mine cleanup.
The Biden administration has a strong interest in enhanced geothermal energy production and solar energy. The federal government is rolling out a new plan for solar development in the West, which includes earmarking significant acreage in Nevada for solar development.
When asked about balancing clean energy development with the preservation of sensitive cultural and environmental resources, Granholm emphasized the importance of involving tribes in the development conversations from the beginning. She stated that consultation and collaboration with tribes and environmentalists are necessary to ensure the right approach.
Regarding nuclear energy production, Granholm did not discuss it during her visit to Nevada. She only reiterated that there are no current conversations at the federal level about storing nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain in Southern Nevada. The issue of whether Yucca Mountain should serve as a repository for nuclear waste has been a contentious one between Nevadans and the federal government for decades.
In summary, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm highlighted the need to double the size of the electric grid to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. She praised Nevada’s renewable energy potential and emphasized the importance of lithium production and processing for transitioning to electric vehicles. Granholm also called for an updated mining law in Nevada and other states with critical mineral supplies. She expressed the administration’s interest in enhanced geothermal energy production and solar energy. Finally, Granholm discussed the importance of involving tribes in clean energy development discussions and did not mention nuclear energy production or the storage of nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain.
