The Nevada Rural Electric Association (NREA), representing consumer-owned public power utilities across Nevada, today released a statement emphasizing its commitment to affordability, reliability, and safety while warning of critical challenges facing the region's energy infrastructure.
As a load-agnostic organization, NREA members are dedicated to serving all consumers equitably while supporting local economic and community development. NREA members do not oversee the permitting process for development projects. To ensure energy projects align with community standards, NREA member utilities work with local governments who oversee permitting processes in their service territories.
NREA members are actively listening to their consumers—rural Nevadans—and understand the fears and anxieties they have shared regarding the rapid growth of data center developments within rural communities. As local infrastructure faces these compounding pressures, the Association remains committed to elevating the voices and protecting the quality of life of the local residents it serves.
To be clear: NREA firmly believes and advocates for growth paying for growth. The burden cannot fall on rate-payers. Local communities must have a seat at the table and a voice in a transparent process.
This comes as there are mounting threats to energy resources - from hydropower infrastructure, spanning from the Lower Snake River Dams to the Lower Basin Colorado River Dams including Hoover & Glen Canyon - to political tides dramatically shifting accessible energy generation assets - all of which pose regional stability risks at a volatile moment: state economic development goals and critical national security initiatives—such as the rapidly accelerating AI technology race—demand unprecedented increases in power capacity
"The primary mission of NREA member utilities is to deliver affordable, reliable, and safe power to the local communities we support," said Lisa Levine, Executive Director of NREA. "To achieve this, we must protect hydropower, support an all-of-the-above approach to energy, and respect the permitting authority of local governments as we adapt to meet the massive capacity demands of tomorrow's technology and economic sectors. We hear the valid anxieties of Nevada rural consumers, and we believe local communities must have the ultimate say in how their service territories grow."
NREA calls on state and federal stakeholders to protect existing power generation assets, preserve and safeguard service territories, and support local governance to ensure a stable, secure energy future for all Nevadans.
About the Nevada Rural Electric Association The Nevada Rural Electric Association (NREA) represents consumer-owned public power utilities across the state of Nevada. NREA members are dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and affordable electric service to rural communities while fostering local economic growth. NREA represents Mt. Wheeler Power, Raft River Rural Electric Cooperative, Lincoln County Power District No. 1, Valley Electric Association, Wells Rural Electric Company, Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative, Alamo Power District No. 3, Boulder City Municipal Utility, Overton Power District No. 5, and Harney Electric Cooperative.