“Creative solutions like ARES Nevada provide a more reliable and modern electric grid and help create an even cleaner energy future for our citizens” said Angie Dykema, Director of the Nevada Governors Office of Energy.

PAHRUMP, NEVADA - [March 28, 2016] - Advanced Rail Energy Storage, LLC ("ARES") announced that its proposed commercial-scale gravity-based rail energy storage project ("ARES Nevada") has been granted a right-of-way lease by the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM"). Once operational, the 50-megawatt project will encompass 106 acres of public land in Southern Nevada, near Pahrump in Clark and Nye Counties, and help stabilize the electric grid. ARES Nevada will connect to the power western grid via the facilities of Valley Electric Association.

"Creative solutions like ARES Nevada provide a more reliable and modern electric grid and help create an even cleaner energy future for our citizens" said Angie Dykema, Director of the Nevada Governors Office of Energy.
Utilizing gravity, ARES Nevada will store energy and release it for dispatch when its needed. Using a single railroad track sited on a gentle grade, multiple electric locomotive cars can move up the track as they receive excess power from solar and wind power plants during sunny and windy days. The train cars will remain available and, when needed, be dispatched slowly downhill, using their motor-generators to return power to the electricity grid. ARES Nevada will provide a wide range of ancillary services, enabling the grid to adjust to momentary changes in demand and help stabilize grid voltage and frequency.
"ARES Nevada will be a world-class facility and a point of pride for Nevada" said Jim Kelly, ARES CEO. "The power production is clean and renewable - operation of the project requires no water or fossil fuel, and creates no hazardous waste or emissions. "
"After a robust Environmental Assessment and Biological Opinion concluded a Finding of No Significant Impact, BLM wrote a Decision and granted the project" said Greg Helseth BLM Southern Nevada Renewable Energy Coordination Office Program Manager. "BLM looks forward to ARES next steps and a Notice to Proceed that will enable construction to begin."
Scheduled to be underway once permitting and environmental compliance process are complete, the ARES Nevada project will provide approximately 100 to 125 full-time local jobs during an eight month construction phase, and anticipates 16 full-time positions once in operation. The projects life is expected to span 40 years or more with only routine maintenance.
About ARES:
Advanced Rail Energy Storage, LLC ("ARES") is a California-based company engaged in the design, development and construction of rail energy storage systems. For more information about ARES, visit www. aresnorthamerica.com.