Nye County set to weigh large solar, transmission and cannabis permits

A joint meeting of Nye County governing bodies will convene at 10:00 a.m. on January 21 in Pahrump to consider a slate of decisions that could shape land use, energy infrastructure and local business licensing across the county. Commissioners, the Board of Highway Commissioners, Licensing and Liquor Board, Board of Health and related bodies will review high-profile proposals alongside routine administrative items.

At the center of the agenda are two regional-scale energy projects. The Sarcobatus Solar Project would deploy roughly 244 megawatts across about 800 acres near Beatty, with a preliminary development plan on the table for public hearing and deliberation. The Greenlink West Transmission Project proposes a 525 kilovolt transmission line and a new Sagebrush Substation across parcels in Beatty, Amargosa Valley and Crystal. Both items will be heard and available for public comment, and their approvals could affect land use, right-of-way planning and local permitting processes.

Local land-use matters will also draw scrutiny. The board will hold public hearings on a minor master plan amendment ZCMP-25-13 and a zone change ZCMP-25-14 for a parcel at 2361 S. Mallard Ave. in Pahrump, decisions that could influence development patterns in that neighborhood. Separately, Fortress Oakridge, LLC is scheduled for consideration of a cannabis cultivation special use permit and an associated county cannabis business license for property at 9680 S. Oakridge Ave., Pahrump. Those licensing deliberations will have immediate implications for neighbors, municipal revenues and the county’s regulatory oversight of cannabis businesses.

The agenda includes a public hearing and deliberation on Nye County Bill No. 2025-12, which would extend a moratorium related to hazardous substances licenses. An extension could pause new approvals for businesses handling regulated hazardous materials until the board completes further study or adopts new controls. Routine items such as employee service awards and the monthly treasurer statement are also slated.

The meeting will provide instructions for public comment and remote participation, and supporting documents are listed for review online at nyecountynv.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01212026-5072. Tonopah posting locations are listed on the agenda for transparency. Residents with concerns about property impacts, traffic, visual changes to the valley and future utility corridors should review the materials ahead of the hearing and consider participating.

These decisions reach beyond parcel lines. Approvals for large-scale solar and transmission would tie Nye County more directly into regional power markets and the wider grid, while licensing and zoning choices will set precedents for local business activity and development. What happens at the Jan. 21 meeting will determine which projects advance, which require more study, and how community voices are incorporated into planning for the county’s landscape and economy.