Las Vegas, situated in the sun-drenched Mojave Desert, is proactively integrating solar power into its energy infrastructure. The city’s commitment to clean energy reflects a broader shift towards sustainability in the region.
Las Vegas’s Solar Energy Landscape
Las Vegas’s solar power is primarily reflected in the energy portfolio of NV Energy, the utility serving Southern Nevada. For 2023, NV Energy reported that nearly 40 percent of its energy was sourced from renewables, exceeding the state’s mandated requirement for that year. Solar power, encompassing both large-scale utility projects and smaller installations, contributed approximately 31 percent of Nevada’s total electricity generation in 2024. Solar electricity accounts for about a third of Las Vegas’s total energy needs.
The City of Las Vegas municipal operations, including government buildings and streetlights, have achieved 100 percent power from renewable sources since 2016. Nevada’s overall progress in solar integration is significant, with the state ranking sixth nationally in total installed solar capacity.
Major Solar Power Sources for the City
Las Vegas’s solar power originates from a combination of expansive utility-scale solar farms and localized rooftop installations. One of the largest contributors is the Gemini Solar Project, located northeast of Las Vegas, with a capacity of 690 megawatts (MW) and can power approximately 260,000 homes. This facility also integrates significant battery storage, enabling power delivery even after sunset. Another substantial source is the Copper Mountain Solar Facility near Boulder City, which provides 782.5 MW of power, sufficient for over 124,991 homes.
Further contributing to the city’s power supply are projects like the Arevon Townsite Solar and Storage facility, located south of Las Vegas, featuring over 528,000 solar panels and a 90 MW battery system capable of powering 60,000 homes. Corporations also play a role, with the MGM Resorts Mega Solar Array supplying up to 90 percent of the daytime power needs for MGM’s 13 properties in Las Vegas. Additionally, the Arrow Canyon Solar and Storage facility, a 200 MW project, and the 150 MW Dry Lake Solar Project near Las Vegas further diversify the city’s utility-scale solar portfolio.
Beyond these large-scale endeavors, distributed generation from rooftop solar installations is also prominent. Southern Nevada holds the highest concentration of residential rooftop solar installations in the continental United States. Roughly 95 percent of single-family homes in Las Vegas are suitable for solar panel installation, allowing many homeowners to significantly offset their electricity bills.
Driving Factors and Future Aspirations
The significant adoption of solar energy in Las Vegas is influenced by both geographical advantages and forward-thinking policy. Nevada benefits from abundant sunshine, experiencing over 300 sunny days annually, making it an ideal location for solar energy generation. This natural resource is complemented by vast areas of open land suitable for large-scale solar developments.
State policy, particularly Nevada’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), mandates that 50 percent of the state’s electricity must come from renewable sources by 2030. This standard, strengthened by legislation like Senate Bill 358 in 2019, provides a clear roadmap for increasing renewable energy integration. NV Energy, the primary utility, is actively working to meet and exceed these targets, demonstrating a commitment to the state’s clean energy goals.
Looking ahead, NV Energy is planning to add substantial new solar and battery storage capacity to its portfolio. The utility is seeking to procure an additional 1,190 MW of new solar energy and 590 MW of battery storage. Upcoming projects, such as the 700 MW Libra Solar Project with integrated battery storage and the ongoing Greenlink transmission projects, aim to enhance the grid’s capacity to deliver clean power across the state. These efforts align with the broader goal of transitioning away from fossil fuels, including the planned conversion of the North Valmy Generating Station from coal to natural gas, marking a step towards a cleaner energy future for Nevada.