Nevada’s First Electric Highway

By VERNON ROBISON

Moapa Valley Progress

It was a festive atmosphere at Eagle’s Landing Travel Center in Mesquite on Wednesday morning, Jan. 29. A crowd of people arrived to celebrate the dedication of Nevada’s segment of I-15 becoming the first federally designated interstate electric vehicle corridor in the state and the Intermountain West.

Three brand new electric vehicle charging stations stood as a backdrop for the ceremonies with an electric car from Overton Power District (OPD5) connected to one of them as a display. A large crowd of about 200 people sat in chairs on the parking lot just north of the travel center.

The three charging stations there, along with two more which were recently installed at the Glendale AMPM, were the final link in satisfying the federal designation which requires charging stations to be installed at least every 50 miles along the 124-mile I-15 route within Nevada.

In attendance at the dedication was Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, as well as staff representatives of the Nevada Congressional delegation, members of the State Legislature, Mesquite City leaders, OPD5 officials and members of the public.

“Building out electric vehicle infrastructure increases to (Nevada’s) highways, promotes tourism and recreation in our rural communities, and supports our economy and jobs,” Sisolak said in a brief speech at the event.

Sisolak explained that the federal designation was sought as part of the Nevada Electric Highway project, a partnership between the Governor’s Office of Energy (GOE) and energy service providers across the State.

“The collaboration between Nevada’s key agencies, utilities and private industry in electrifying Nevada’s highways paves the way forward to transportation decarbonization,” Sisolak said.

Phase I of the Electric Highway Project began in 2015 with plans to electrify U.S. Highway 95 between Las Vegas and Reno. With the influx of $3.7 million from the Volkswagen legal settlement into the program, phase II was accelerated with plans to build out electric vehicle infrastructure across the state’s other major highway corridors. These included I-15, I-80, U.S. Hwy 93 and U.S. Hwy 50.

GOE officials are hoping to complete the Nevada Electric Highway initiative by the end of 2020.
Sisolak said that the breadth of this state-wide initiative also accelerates the buildout of a wider-ranging, multi-state effort called the Regional Electric Vehicles for the West plan (REV West) which had its beginnings in 2017 under former Nevada Governor Bryan Sandoval.

“In December, I signed a memorandum of understanding with governors of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming to continue our collective effort to establish REV West,” Sisolak said. “By signing on to the REV West plan, Nevada has reaffirmed its commitment to work with its neighbors to create connected, electric vehicle portals that will allow travel to and through the intermountain west.”

Sisolak emphasized that the Nevada Electric Highway initiative could not get off the ground without the State’s key agencies working in partnership with utilities and private businesses around the state.

“It is really encouraging to see local governments joining with state government joining with the private sector joining with businesses to make this a reality,” Sisolak said.

In some brief remarks, OPD5 General Manager Mendis Cooper stated that the district had been approached several years ago with this plan.

“The plan was forward-thinking and ambitious, and we recognized that it was an exciting opportunity to be part of the new technologies that could help Nevada take its place as a leader for electric vehicles,” Cooper said.

OPD5 was eventually awarded a grant of $150,000 to install the five EV charging units in two different locations. The grant paid 100 percent of the costs for the equipment, infrastructure upgrades and all necessary manpower for installation.

“OPD5 is proud to have been part of the infrastructure development that will now let electric vehicle drivers travel the length of I-15; from the California/Mexico border in the south, to the Arizona border just north of us and into Utah,” Cooper said. “This is a proud day for OPD5 and a significant achievement for Nevada and everyone involved.”

When completed the Nevada Electric Highway project will have more than 30 charging station sites across Nevada, securing additional federal electric vehicle corridor designations across the state’s highways.