What is the greater sage grouse and why is it important in Nevada?

The greater sage grouse is a culturally significant bird in Nevada, closely tied to the sagebrush ecosystem. Its declining population has become a symbol of the battle between renewable energy development and environmental preservation in the state.

How is the Greenlink North project impacting the sage grouse?

The planned high-voltage transmission line would run through prime sage grouse habitat, potentially disrupting the birds' mating rituals and providing perches for predators. Conservationists argue this could be catastrophic for the already dwindling sage grouse population.

Who is opposing the Greenlink North project in Nevada?

A coalition of conservationists, wildlife groups, Native American tribes, and local residents are protesting the Greenlink North project, concerned about its impact on the sage grouse and the broader desert ecosystem. They are fighting to preserve the state's "loneliest road" and the untamed wilderness it traverses.

Home / Environment / Sage Grouse Fights to Survive as Nevada Embraces Green Power

Sage Grouse Fights to Survive as Nevada Embraces Green Power

10 Nov

•

Summary

Planned high-voltage transmission line threatens sage grouse habitat
Conservationists, tribes, and locals unite to protest the project
Nevada's "loneliest road" faces industrialization and environmental impact

Sage Grouse Fights to Survive as Nevada Embraces Green Power

In October 2025, a photographer and journalist embarked on a journey through Nevada's remote Basin and Range region, where they encountered a brewing conflict over the state's renewable energy ambitions. The focus of the dispute is Greenlink North, a planned high-voltage transmission line that would span 235 miles along the "loneliest road in America," disrupting the habitat of the greater sage grouse, a culturally significant bird.

Conservationists, wildlife groups, Native American tribes, and local residents have united in opposition to the project, fearing it will harm the delicate desert ecosystem. The sage grouse, which is not federally endangered but protected by state-level conservation plans, is seen as a "canary in the coal mine" for the broader environmental impact. Opponents argue that the transmission line and associated solar projects would fragment the sagebrush habitat, disrupt the birds' mating rituals, and provide perches for predators.

Despite the protests, Nevada's largest utility, NV Energy, is pressing ahead with Greenlink North, citing the state's mandate to generate 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The utility claims the project is necessary to meet the growing power demands of data centers and other energy-intensive industries. However, many locals feel the project prioritizes urban needs over the preservation of their remote, untamed landscape.

As the battle over Greenlink North unfolds, the greater sage grouse remains at the center of the debate, symbolizing the broader struggle to balance Nevada's renewable energy ambitions with the protection of its fragile desert ecosystems. The outcome of this conflict will shape the future of the state's wild spaces and the communities that depend on them.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.