National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Concentrating Solar Power Research

NREL’s JEDI Model Demonstrates Benefits for Nevada’s Energy Development

April 13, 2009

In March, Vote Solar released “The Sun Rises on Nevada,” its in-depth analysis of employment, economic, tax, and environmental benefits, which demonstrated the potential gains for Nevada to develop solar energy.  Vote Solar used the Job and Economic Development Impact (JEDI) model developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for concentrating solar power plants.

Vote Solar’s analysis indicates that 2,000 megawatts of large-scale solar developed in Nevada over the next seven years would deliver the following sizable benefits to the state:

• Jobs:  Creating 5,900 jobs per year associated with project construction and 1,200 full-time jobs for plant operation and management.
• Wages and salaries:  Providing $5 billion in cumulative direct, indirect, and induced earning associated with the projects.
• Economic impact:  Generating nearly $11 billion in goods and services in the state as a result of project development and operation.
• Sales and property taxes:  Paying $500 million over the life of the projects, assuming proposed tax abatement levels are passed by the state.
• Greenhouse gas emissions:  Avoiding 4.6 million tons of carbon dioxide, 81 tons of methane, and 27 tons of nitrous oxide each year that the projects are operating.