Pumped Storage Hydro

rPlus Hydro submits final license application for 1,000 MW White Pine Pumped Storage

The proposed project is expected to provide eight hours of energy storage at its full capacity of 1,000 MW, which is equivalent to about an eighth of Nevada’s peak power demand on a hot summer day.
rPlus Hydro submits final license application for 1,000 MW White Pine Pumped Storage

rPlus Hydro LLLP has submitted a final license application (also referred to as a license for major unconstructed project) to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for its 1,000 MW White Pine Pumped Storage project in White Pine County, Nev.

FERC will now begin the environmental review and licensing process for White Pine Pumped Storage with local, state and federal agencies. Construction could start as early as 2025.

The proposed White Pine Pumped Storage project is expected to provide eight hours of energy storage at its full capacity of 1,000 MW, which is equivalent to about an eighth of Nevada’s peak power demand on a hot summer day, rPlus Hydro said. The project represents more than a $2.5 billion investment in Nevada’s energy infrastructure and will support Nevada’s move toward the clean energy goals adopted by its legislators and approved by its voters, according to a release.

“White Pine is located at an important crossroads of existing, planned and proposed electric transmission in Nevada,” states Matthew Shapiro, rPlus Hydro chief executive officer. “From this location, the project would help the state meet peak power needs in its northern and southern load areas and help stabilize the grid, while making the most effective use of renewable energy sources. With planned third-party transmission build-outs, the White Pine project will sit at the intersection of regional energy markets. It’s hard to imagine a more strategic location for this project.”

The project’s construction phase will create up to 500 construction jobs. Once operational, the plant will bring more than 35 new full-time, skilled positions to the area and provide an estimated $12 million in additional annual tax revenue for state and local governments.

In January 2023, rPlus Hydro submitted the final license application for the 900 MW Seminoe Pumped Storage project in Carbon County, Wyo.

rPlus Hydro, based in Utah, is a subsidiary of rPlus Energies and is focused on developing, designing and constructing large-scale pumped hydroelectric energy storage projects in the U.S. Black Canyon Hydro LLC, an Idaho-based company that is the license applicant for the Seminoe Pumped Storage project, is a subsidiary of rPlus Hydro. rPlus Energies develops modern power plants to contribute to rebuilding America’s energy infrastructure. rPlus Energies has over 30 projects across 15 market areas in the U.S. in active development, including solar, wind, pumped storage hydro, and solar plus battery. rPlus Energies is a subsidiary of the Gardner Group.