MGM Resorts announced on Thursday that it has signed an agreement to more than double its access to solar electricity. The agreement is with Escape Solar, a utility-scale energy company building a solar plant 90 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip in rural Lincoln County.
The first energy from the Escape Solar + Storage project is expected to help power MGM’s needs by 2026.
According to an MGM press release, the Lincoln County facility — which will be operated by Estuary Power of Reno — will generate enough electricity to power more than 28,000 average homes.
MGM said it already uses 90% renewable energy for 11 of its Las Vegas resorts’ daytime needs, and that the boost from this new farm will fill in the 10% gap as well as allow it to store some of the energy needed for nighttime use.
Most casino resorts — we’re looking at you, Luxor – use more electricity at night due to the increased loads commanded by exterior lights, shows and in-room air conditioning.
“This agreement is the next step toward the achievement of our climate goals,” said Bill Hornbuckle, MGM’s CEO and president, in a statement. “As we continue the journey toward greater sustainability, we remain dedicated to finding new ways to reduce our carbon footprint, conserve resources and inspire others to join in building a more sustainable world for generations to come.”
In 2023, MGM said, it achieved two of its previously stated carbon emissions goals by reducing emissions per square foot by 45% by 2025, and reducing emissions per square foot by 50% by 2030. This has been achieved since 2016 via renewable Las Vegas energy projects including:
- its 323,000-panel Mega Solar Array, which provides 100 MW to MGM Resorts’ 11 Las Vegas locations,
- the 26,000 solar panels atop the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, which provide 8.3MW to that property, and
- a 100-kW rooftop solar array that helps power T-Mobile Arena.
According to MGM, the new agreement “will help propel the company closer to its goal of procuring 100% renewable electricity in North America by 2030.”
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