MGM Resorts announced on Thursday that it has signed an agreement to significantly expand its access to solar electricity. The agreement is with Escape Solar, a utility-scale energy company currently constructing a solar plant 90 miles northeast of the Las Vegas Strip in rural Lincoln County.
MGM’s existing Mega Solar Array project, located 30 miles north of Las Vegas, already provides 90% of the daytime energy needs for its Las Vegas hotels. The first energy from the new Escape Solar + Storage project is anticipated to help power MGM’s requirements by 2026.
According to an MGM press release, the Lincoln County facility, which will be operated by Estuary Power of Reno, is projected to generate enough electricity to power more than 28,000 average homes. MGM stated that it currently uses 90% renewable energy for 11 of its Las Vegas resorts’ daytime needs, and the forthcoming energy from this new solar farm will bridge the remaining 10% gap and allow for energy storage for nighttime use.
Most casino resorts, such as the Luxor, experience higher electricity usage at night due to the demands of 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 accomplished two of its previously set carbon emissions goals by reducing emissions per square foot by 45% by 2025, and by 50% by 2030. These reductions have been achieved since 2016 through 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 supply 8.3 MW to that property; and a 100-kW rooftop solar array that contributes power to T-Mobile Arena.
MGM stated that the new agreement “will help propel the company closer to its goal of procuring 100% renewable electricity in North America by 2030.”
