Remote Surveillance Trailer in Reno, NV

A 200-megawatt lithium-ion battery energy storage system jumped through its first hoop, with the Reno Planning Commission recommending approval for the conditional-use permit on March 4.

The “Trego Grid” battery storage project will be directly east of the Talus Valley housing complex in south Reno off South Meadows Parkway on roughly 25 acres. It will connect to NV Energy’s existing Mira Loma substation south of the development.

The closest battery unit in the system will be roughly 445 feet from the homes.

Reno’s principal planner Nathan Gilbert said these battery energy storage systems are known as “peaking power plants,” or specialized facilities that charge batteries during normal power operations.

The project will connect to the NV Energy substation and charge from existing grid power. The batteries are then used during periods of high electricity demand, like hot summer days, to help prevent outages and meet increased demand.

The facility has no staff, except for occasional maintenance.

According to the notes from the neighborhood advisory board meeting, the local residents were mostly concerned about fire safety and wildfire risk, but the project met fire safety standards.

Reno Fire Marshal John Beck confirmed that the project meets fire standards and that the department will be alerted if something were to happen.

Eric Hasty, a representative of the developer and planner for the engineering company Wood Rodgers, said older battery storage systems like these have caught fire, such as the Moss Landing fire in California, but new technology has been created to prevent this system from having that problem.

For example, Hasty said it has a monitor that automatically shuts off batteries for unsafe temperatures and alerts authorities if there is a fire. It also uses coolants and fans instead of water to cool the batteries.

Seven fire hydrants are also proposed for the site, Hasty said, not for fire suppression of the batteries, but for general wildfire suppression in the area.

A local University of Nevada, Reno professor, Anne Nolin, gave support for the project in public comment, saying that since Reno is the fastest-warming city in the U.S., she believes there’s an urgency to stabilize the grid with more energy use in the region and that battery storage would help with that.

“I have huge support for renewable energy, this project continues to support that,” Nolin said. “And it also puts Reno more at the forefront of renewable energy activities, so it’d be nice to see that.”

Commissioner Kerry Rohrmeier added that these battery storage facilities are important to relieve stress on the energy grid, especially since Reno is becoming a large market for data centers coming into Nevada. However, she worries about future battery backup systems actually serving residents first and not just commercial sites.

"We're only going to be seeing more of these, and I can tell you they're not going to be wildly popular as adjacent to residential uses," Rohrmeier said.

The developer also plans to add two more parcels of land to the project, which means the Reno City Council will decide whether the additional land can be annexed.

It will also be reviewed by the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Commission, since it has regional significance, according to Gilbert.

Jaedyn Young covers local government for the Reno Gazette-Journal. Her wages are 100% funded by donations and grants; if you’d like to see more stories like this one, please consider donating at. Send your story ideas and feedback to Jaedyn at.

(This report was updated to add new information.)

Northern Nevada skywatchers are in for a striking celestial display as a total lunar eclipse — often called a “Blood Moon” — becomes visible over Reno in the early morning hours.

During a total lunar eclipse, Earth moves directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting its shadow across the lunar surface. Instead of going dark, the Moon turns a deep red or copper color. The dramatic hue occurs because Earth’s atmosphere filters and bends sunlight, allowing red wavelengths to reach the Moon while scattering out blues — the same effect that creates vivid sunrises and sunsets.

Best viewing time in Reno

For viewers in the Pacific Time Zone, the most dramatic portion of the eclipse — known as totality — is expected to occur between 3:04 a.m. and 4:02 a.m. That hourlong window will offer the best opportunity to see the Moon glowing red at its peak.

Astronomers recommend heading outside before dawn, as the Moon will begin to fade and the sky will gradually brighten later in the morning. The eclipse unfolds in stages:

The entire event lasts several hours, but the period of totality is the highlight.

Easy and safe to watch

Unlike a solar eclipse, a lunar eclipse is completely safe to view with the naked eye. No special glasses are required. Binoculars or a telescope can enhance the view, revealing texture and subtle shades of red across the Moon’s surface.

Reno’s typically clear desert skies and higher elevation can provide excellent viewing conditions, weather permitting. Observers are encouraged to find an open area away from bright city lights for the best experience.

If skies cooperate, early risers across Northern Nevada will have a front-row seat to one of nature’s most captivating astronomical events — a rare “Blood Moon” glowing overhead before sunrise.