NRS704.7316. Comprehensive plan for reduction of emissions from coal-fired electric generating plants and increased capacity from renewable energy facilities and other electric generating plants; contents and requirements.

      1.  An electric utility shall file with the Commission, as part of the plan required to be submitted pursuant to NRS 704.741, a comprehensive plan for the reduction of emissions from coal-fired electric generating plants and the replacement of the capacity of such plants with increased capacity from renewable energy facilities and other electric generating plants.

      2.  The emissions reduction and capacity replacement plan must provide:

      (a) For the retirement or elimination of:

             (1) Not less than 300 megawatts of coal-fired electric generating capacity on or before December 31, 2014;

             (2) In addition to the generating capacity retired or eliminated pursuant to subparagraph (1), not less than 250 megawatts of coal-fired electric generating capacity on or before December 31, 2017; and

             (3) In addition to the generating capacity retired or eliminated pursuant to subparagraphs (1) and (2), not less than 250 megawatts of coal-fired electric generating capacity on or before December 31, 2019.

Ê For the purposes of this paragraph, the generating capacity of a coal-fired electric generating plant must be determined by reference to the most recent resource plan filed by the electric utility pursuant to NRS 704.741 and accepted by the Commission pursuant to NRS 704.751.

      (b) For the construction or acquisition of, or contracting for, 350 megawatts of electric generating capacity from renewable energy facilities. The electric utility shall:

             (1) Issue a request for proposals for 100 megawatts of electric generating capacity from new renewable energy facilities on or before December 31, 2014;

             (2) In addition to the request for proposals issued pursuant to subparagraph (1), issue a request for proposals for 100 megawatts of electric generating capacity from new renewable energy facilities on or before December 31, 2015;

             (3) In addition to the requests for proposals issued pursuant to subparagraphs (1) and (2), issue a request for proposals for 100 megawatts of electric generating capacity from new renewable energy facilities on or before December 31, 2016;

             (4) Review each proposal received pursuant to subparagraphs (1), (2) and (3) and identify those renewable energy facilities that will provide:

                   (I) The greatest economic benefit to this State;

                   (II) The greatest opportunity for the creation of new jobs in this State; and

                   (III) The best value to customers of the electric utility;

             (5) Negotiate, in good faith, to construct, acquire or contract with the renewable energy facilities identified pursuant to subparagraph (4), and file with the Commission an amendment to the plan each time the utility wishes to construct, acquire or contract with such facilities; and

             (6) Begin, on or before December 31, 2017, the construction or acquisition of a portion of new renewable energy facilities with a generating capacity of 50 megawatts to be owned and operated by the electric utility, and complete construction of such facilities on or before December 31, 2021.

Ê For the purposes of this paragraph, the generating capacity of a renewable energy facility must be determined by the nameplate capacity of the facility.

      (c) For the electric utility to construct or acquire and own electric generating plants with an electric generating capacity of 550 megawatts, which must be constructed or acquired to replace, in an orderly and structured manner, the coal-fired electric generating capacity retired or eliminated pursuant to paragraph (a).

      (d) If the plan includes the construction or acquisition of one or more natural gas-fired electric generating plants, a strategy for the commercially reasonable physical procurement of fixed-price natural gas by the electric utility.

      (e) A plan for tracking and specifying the accounting treatment for all costs associated with the decommissioning of the coal-fired electric generating plants identified for retirement or elimination.

Ê For the purposes of this subsection, an electric utility shall be deemed to own, acquire, retire or eliminate only its pro rata portion of any electric generating facility that is not wholly owned by the electric utility and, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b), “capacity” means an amount of firm electric generating capacity used by the electric utility for the purpose of preparing a plan filed with the Commission pursuant to NRS 704.736 to 704.754, inclusive.

      3.  In addition to the requirements for an emissions reduction and capacity replacement plan set forth in subsection 2, the plan may include additional utility facilities, electric generating plants, elements or programs necessary to carry out the plan, including, without limitation:

      (a) The construction of natural gas pipelines necessary for the operation of any new natural gas-fired electric generating plants included in the plan;

      (b) Entering into contracts for the transportation of natural gas necessary for the operation of any natural gas-fired electric generating plants included in the plan; and

      (c) The construction of transmission lines and related infrastructure necessary for the operation or interconnection of any electric generating plants included in the plan.

      (Added to NRS by 2013, 3074)