Twenty-Year Agreement Increases Revenue for TMWA and Green Energy for Switch

TMWA and Switch, a provider of AI, cloud and enterprise data centers, have entered into a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for renewable energy generated by TMWA’s hydroelectric facilities on the Truckee River. The agreement goes into effect in 2028, after TMWA’s current agreement with NV Energy expires. The resulting revenue, estimated at more than $100 million over the life of the contract, will help offset TMWA’s operating costs and contribute to keeping rates lower for customers.

Authorized by TMWA’s Board of Directors, the agreement reflects a shared commitment to sustainable energy and regional collaboration. For Switch, the PPA represents a strategic step in sourcing renewable power and supporting local utilities. For TMWA, it helps sustain the long-term goal of generating clean energy and maximizing hydroelectric revenues for the benefit of customers.

“Entering into this long-term agreement with Switch makes sense for TMWA and our customers.” said John Zimmerman, TMWA general manager. “It helps ensure we can continue producing renewable energy for decades to come, while also helping offset the cost of providing drinking water to the community.”

The PPA originates from an open competitive Request for Offers process conducted by TMWA in 2024, which invited interested parties to submit proposals for purchasing the full energy output of TMWA’s hydroelectric facilities. These include Fleish (2.55 MW), Verdi (2.35 MW) and Washoe (2.1 MW) power plants—all of which harness Truckee River flows to generate clean energy before returning virtually all the water back to the river. Switch is located downstream of the Truckee Meadows and in the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center.