Nevada
NV Energy receives approval to build natural gas-fired power plant north of Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Public Utilities Fee of Nevada is getting the inexperienced mild to construct a brand new nationwide gas-fired energy plant north of Las Vegas.
It is an extra peaker plant that might be positioned on the Silverhawk Producing Station. Peaker crops are energy crops that often solely run when there’s excessive demand for electrical energy.
The measure was authorised on Tuesday and is assembly some opposition.
“Constructing a brand new methane fuel plant in Nevada is a short-sighted determination that can have long-term unfavourable penalties for the setting and the state’s clear vitality objectives,” Angelyn Tabalba, communications for the Nevada Conservation League, stated. “As a substitute of doubling down on fossil fuels, they need to be leaning right into a clear vitality future. For a state thought of to be a clear vitality chief, this determination sends the improper message to different vitality corporations and undermine the progress that now we have made in the direction of a cleaner, extra sustainable future.”
Chispa Nevada, which is a program of the League of Conservation Voters, stated they’re additionally in opposition to the measure.
“The rushed approval reveals a damaged planning course of that ignores client considerations with methane fuel and with fossil fuels typically,” nationwide director Estefany Carrasco Gonzalez stated. “We urge the PUCN, NV Power, and different stakeholders to be aware of our communities and to think about different options that target vitality effectivity and to account for the environmental and public well being penalties of fossil fuels once they plan for and approve new infrastructure.”
Channel 13 reached out to NV Power who stated the mission is required.
“Even with the development of the Silverhawk Peaking Plant, NV Power will nonetheless assist the state meet the renewable portfolio customary and carbon objectives. This determination ensures that NV Power can reliably present vitality for Nevadans, particularly through the state’s hottest months from June to September”
NV Power
One other huge concern is the price of the mission. NV Power estimates the brand new peak plant alone will value greater than $333 million and that it may result in larger buyer charges.
“Nevadans are already being hit exhausting with excessive utility payments due to unstable methane costs,” Eric Jeng, the deputy director of One APIA Nevada, stated. “Our communities deserve vitality effectivity packages and measures that scale back vitality demand to assist us drive down bills – not improve capitol prices from new fuel programs.”
NV Power has already raised costs for 4 consecutive quarters. Nevertheless, the corporate stated they’re taking a look at ultimately switching a few of these models to hydrogen to allow them to rely much less on pure fuel.
“The brand new Silverhawk producing models are designed to run on hydrogen in anticipation of assembly our web zero commitments, complementing our enlargement of non-carbon assets. We’re dedicated to offering dependable and inexpensive vitality for our prospects and reaffirm our dedication to attain web zero greenhouse fuel emissions by 2050.”
NV Power
No timeline for when these generators could be transformed to hydrogen have been laid out as of Friday evening.