Lyon County NV – June 13, 2026

One of the largest electric transmission projects in Nevada history is beginning to take shape across Lyon County.

Per NV Energy, this massive project known as Greenlink Nevada is designed to create a statewide transmission network capable of moving electricity between Northern and Southern Nevada while supporting future renewable energy development, economic growth, and increasing power demands.

The project consists of two major high-voltage transmission lines that will ultimately converge in Yerington.

Why Is Yerington Important?

Yerington will serve as a major hub within the Greenlink system.

The Greenlink West line will terminate at the Walker River Substation in northern Mason Valley, located adjacent to the existing Fort Churchill Substation. From there, electricity will be transmitted north through Lyon County via three new 345-kV transmission lines.

Those lines will travel through the Silver Springs and Stagecoach areas before connecting to the Reno region’s Mira Loma Substation and the Comstock Substation near USA Parkway in Storey County.

The transmission system is expected to help serve growing residential, commercial, industrial, and renewable energy demands throughout Nevada.

How Tall Are Utility Poles? Greenlink Transmission Structures Will Tower Above Standard Power Lines

Most people are familiar with the wooden utility and telephone poles found throughout neighborhoods and along local roads. These standard poles typically measure between 30 and 60 feet in total length. Because a portion of each pole must be buried underground for stability—generally about 10 percent of its length plus an additional two feet—a typical 40-foot pole is installed about 6 feet deep, leaving approximately 34 feet visible above ground.

The height of utility poles varies depending on their purpose and location. In residential neighborhoods, distribution poles generally range from 30 to 45 feet tall and are designed to provide safe clearance over streets, driveways, and sidewalks. Along major roadways and in commercial areas, taller poles ranging from 45 to 60 feet are often used to accommodate higher-voltage equipment and additional communication or electrical lines.

The transmission structures being constructed as part of NV Energy’s Greenlink Nevada project are significantly larger.

Unlike the utility poles commonly seen around Yerington and Mason Valley, Greenlink’s steel transmission towers and monopoles will generally range from 100 to 180 feet in height. The largest “H-frame” structures can reach approximately 180 feet tall—roughly equivalent to an 18-story building. Each one is connected to a significant concrete footing.

Video of colossal transmission pole placement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3vr7vxYMIQ&t=9s

According to NV Energy, Greenlink consists of two primary transmission corridors:

In addition to these 3 major 525-kV transmission lines, the project includes three new 345-kV transmission lines extending from Yerington to the Reno area.

The Greenlink West line will terminate at the Walker Substation in northern Mason Valley near the existing Fort Churchill Substation. From there, three 345-kV transmission lines will continue north through Silver Springs and Stagecoach before connecting to the Mira Loma Substation in the Reno-Sparks region and the Comstock Substation in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center.

Within Lyon County, project-related activity is already becoming visible. Equipment and material staging yards are being developed near Bybee Lane and Highway 95A East in Mason Valley, as well as at the former Dayton Valley Turf Farm property in Stagecoach. Large steel transmission poles are being delivered, sorted, and staged at these locations before installation.

Mason Valley equipment yard for Greenlink:

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Stagecoach ‘laydown’ yard:

During a June 10, 2026 meeting, the Lyon County Planning Commission considered NV Energy’s Conditional Use Permit request related to the three 345-kV transmission lines extending from Yerington toward Reno and Storey County. The commission voted 3-0, with two abstentions, to recommend approval.

Not everyone has welcomed the project without concerns.

Stagecoach Citizens Advisory Board member Mandy Brinnand recently reported that approximately 70 acres of the former Dayton Valley Turf Farm property are being used as a Greenlink material storage, or “laydown,” yard. According to Brinnand, nearby residents have expressed concerns regarding dust generated by ongoing activity at the site and allege that conditions outlined in the temporary use permit have not been fully followed.

Brinnand stated that large trucks transporting transmission poles are expected to increase traffic in the area and urged motorists to use caution, particularly near Blackhawk Road in Stagecoach.

Video of the June 10, 2026 Lyon County NV Planning Commission starting 20 minutes into the meeting, addressing NV Energy CUP Conditional Use Permit for Greenlink Project. Several citizens spoke during the public comment section:

The Greenlink project has also drawn statewide attention because of its role in supporting Nevada’s growing energy demands. Expanded transmission capacity is expected to serve renewable energy development, population growth, industrial expansion, and major commercial users, including large data center developments in Northern Nevada.

As construction progresses over the next two years, residents throughout Lyon County will see increased construction activity, equipment yards, and the installation of transmission structures that are far larger than the utility poles commonly found along local streets and highways.

Will NV Energy’s Greenlink Project cause an increase in residential customer billing?

The short answer is yes, Greenlink is expected to increase electric bills for some NV Energy residential customers, although the exact impact depends on where you live in Nevada and future decisions by state regulators.

One important distinction: Greenlink itself does not automatically raise bills. Rate increases occur only when the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) approves NV Energy’s requests to recover project costs from customers. Several such approvals have already occurred, and additional rate proceedings are expected as construction continues.

NV Energy utility pricing: https://www.carsonnow.org/09/18/2025/nv-energys-bill-pricing-switch-greenlink-construction-costs-okd-by-regulators#:~:text=The%20commission%20had%20previously%20designated,percent%2C%20according%20to%20the%20order

Related articles:

From Nevada Current on January 12, 2025 summarizing the original concept of NV Energy’s Greenlink Project, what corporations will benefit from it’s services, and how it may effect residential customers electric bill: https://nevadacurrent.com/2026/01/12/data-centers-greenlink-and-your-electricity-bill

https://www.nvenergy.com/cleanenergy/greenlink-nevada

https://www.basinandrangewatch2.org/transmission-projects/greenlink-west

What is the justification for this level of needed energy and how will it be generated? https://pizenswitchtimes.com/2026/06/08/artificial-intelligence-ai-data-centers-in-2026-how-they-effect-our-daily-lives-in-yerington-nevada/

NV Energy’s initial plan for the Greenlink Nevada Project from October 2020 (modifications have occurred since then):