Earlier this year, Geenex Solar, the primary developer behind the industrial-scale solar projects targeting Clark County, withdrew the interconnection requests for its 350 MW project.
This means that the project will not advance in the current cycle. However, Geenex may resubmit the project in a future cycle, potentially later this year.
Background
Geenex’s interconnection requests were first initiated in 2019, at a time when PJM Interconnection, the 13-state regional grid operator used a “first-come, first-served” basis to process new generation requests.
Because of an influx of speculative solar projects and a resulting backlog in the queue, PJM transitioned to a new model deemed “first-ready, first-served” in 2023. This new process evaluates projects in “clusters” or “cycles” and advances projects that are closer to being ready for construction and have a higher likelihood of being built.
The new process also requires developers to post ‘readiness deposits’ at certain intervals to keep their projects in the current cycle. These readiness deposits cover a percentage of the costs of upgrades to the transmission network incurred by new generation projects.
The readiness deposit for the Geenex solar facility in Clark County would have been approximately $40 million. Given the uncertainty surrounding the project and the risk of losing the readiness deposit, Geenex elected to withdraw their interconnection requests.
What’s Next?
In a phone call with Clark Coalition Executive Director Will Mayer, Geenex CEO Emily Williams stated “Geenex is still working to build its solar project in Clark County.”
She remarked that they still have land under-contract for solar development, and that they could submit an application for a new queue position in the next cycle. That next cycle appears to have a deadline in December 2025.
We believe it is possible, if not likely, that Geenex is seeking to sell the project to another solar developer.
While we have witnessed many changes over the last five years… one thing remains unchanged: Our resolve to protect Clark County’s world-class farmland and its citizens from the threat of industrial solar.
Clark Coalition will remain vigilant and stands ready to oppose any renewed attempts by solar developers to convert Clark County’s irreplaceable agricultural land to inappropriate uses.
Thank you to all of our supporters that have made our work possible.
