CARSON CITY, December 2, 2021 — Today, national business group Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) applauded Governor Sisolak for his appointments to the Regional Transmission Coordination Task Force, which includes policy leaders in the advanced energy industry, including Enel North America’s Mona Tierney-Lloyd.
The Task Force was created by Senate Bill (SB) 448* (2021) to study the costs and benefits of joining a regional organized wholesale electricity market and to recommend policies that facilitate utility entrance into a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) by 2030. A western RTO would harness competitive market forces and transparent planning processes to make energy more reliable and affordable for Nevadan ratepayers, and will also spur new private investment and job creation in the state.
“I’m honored to have this opportunity to serve Nevada and Governor Sisolak as the geothermal energy representative on the Regional Transmission Coordination Task Force,” said Mona Tierney-Lloyd, Head of State Public Policy and Institutional Affairs for Enel North America, an AEE member company. “Nevadans deserve all the benefits that come with a transition to clean, affordable, and reliable energy. My goal is that the policies this Task Force ultimately recommends will deliver these benefits.”
“This Task Force will bring together Nevada’s best experts and thought leaders on energy markets and the state’s unique energy system,” said Sarah Steinberg, Principal at Advanced Energy Economy. “AEE applauds the inclusion of advanced energy business leaders in the task force, which is an important step towards the creation of a regional grid. A western RTO would offer enhanced reliability during severe weather events and is key to reducing customer costs as the state expands its use of clean energy resources. We look forward to engaging with and assisting the Task Force over the next several years.”
Nevada’s leadership on RTOs and resilience in the west will make it a central player in market design, and Governor Sisolak has proven to be a strong supporter of a western RTO and a leader among western governors on this issue. Governor Sisolak recently tweeted that the Silver State is “leading efforts to transform the western electricity grid,” and that SB 448 “charts the course for regionalization of our grid so we can move more NV produced renewable resources throughout the West.”
Background Materials
- Read AEE’s statement supporting SB 448
- Read AEE’s testimony in support of the bill and our bill fact sheet
- Read the sign-on letter in support of the Western RTO provisions from various businesses, environmental organizations, and trade associations
- Read our Nevada 2021 Advanced Energy Jobs Fact Sheet
- Read our Nevada Stimulus Report outlining the economic benefits of an advanced energy investment, including transmission