Massive Solar Energy Project Will Power Vegas Casinos

A much-ballyhooed solar project will be providing energy for southeast Nevada and three major Las Vegas Strip casinos.

Escape Solar

Estuary Power closed a $340 million financing package for its Escape Solar and Storage project last month and has now announced that engineering and construction company Bechtel has been chosen to design the 226-megawatt direct current photovoltaic solar facility.

Solar Panels and Project Details

There will be a reported 389,000 photovoltaic solar panels described as “highly efficient bifacial solar panel technology that enables both sides of the panels to absorb sunlight,” which will cover 900 acres in southeast Nevada. The project is expected to generate energy for homes in the area as well as MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Las Vegas, and the Overton Power District.

Jill Daniel, founder and CEO of Estuary Power, spoke about choosing the right partner on the project: “We chose Bechtel to design and construct Escape [Solar project] because of our long, trusted relationship and Bechtel’s heritage of designing and constructing the most difficult projects in the world with excellence and professionalism. In a challenging sector, we have every confidence that Bechtel will deliver Escape for our customers.”

Kelly Brown, the Operations Manager of Bechtel’s Renewables & Clean Power business, commented, “Bechtel is delighted to be joining a fantastic team to deliver clean power to Estuary’s customers in southern Nevada.

“Our commitment to our customers, Estuary and Ullico, with whom we’ve worked closely for 20 years, is to bring our best talent and industry-leading digital processes to deliver fast and effective results. We look forward to building a facility that will generate renewable energy for decades to come and add to Nevada’s successful history of renewable power generation.”

MGM Signs Renewable Energy Pact

BetMGM has an ambitious goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030, and to help achieve that end, it signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with Escape Solar LLC.

“This agreement is the next step toward the achievement of our climate goals. We have our eyes on meeting our science-based targets and goal of sourcing 100% of our electricity in North America from renewable sources by 2030,” said Bill Hornbuckle, CEO and President at MGM Resorts. “As we continue the journey toward greater sustainability, we remain dedicated to finding new ways to reduce our carbon footprint, conserve resources, and inspire others to join in building a more sustainable world for generations to come.”

An MGM press release articulated the company’s renewable energy accomplishments since the initiative began in earnest in 2016.

• 323,000-panel Mega Solar Array providing 100 MW to MGM Resorts locations in Las Vegas
• 26,000 solar panels atop the Mandalay Bay Convention Center providing 8.3MW to that property
• 100-kW rooftop solar array to help power T-Mobile Arena
• 3,456 solar panels atop the parking garage at MGM Springfield in Massachusetts

“Estuary is delighted to contribute to MGM Resorts’ industry-leading renewable energy objectives by supplying solar energy and battery capacity from our Escape Solar project,” said Estuary Power’s CEO Jill Daniel. “MGM Resorts’ purchase of renewable energy from Escape will reduce carbon emissions by nearly 250,000 metric tons annually. In addition, Escape will generate substantial economic benefits for Lincoln County, Nevada, as the first utility-scale solar project in the county, and will create over 250 well-paying construction jobs.”