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Nevada Coal Plant ProposalsNevada currently receives approximately 50 percent of its electricity from coal-fired power plants, and plans are in place to build more. Here is a list of the current proposals. Follow the links to find out more about each proposal and the efforts underway to oppose them:
1. ToquopLocation: Near Toquop Indian Reservation Company: Sithe Global Type: Supercritical pulverized coal Megawatts (MW): 750 Owner: Merchant More information: The Toquop plant was originally proposed as a 1,100 MW natural gas plant in 2003, but due to rising prices of natural gas, was re-proposed as a coal plant. Sithe Global states that they hope to begin construction of the plant in 2007 and have it online by 2011. The company claims that they will use the latest technology to control air pollutants from the plant, but also say that carbon dioxide is not an air pollutant. The plant would cost $1.2 billion to build and would be located on 200 acres in Lincoln County, 12 miles northwest of Mesquite. In April 2007, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection received the air permit application for Toquop, and has stated that the draft permit will be available for public comment no sooner than September 2007. Contact: Charles Benjamin with Western Resource Advocates at cbenjamin@westernresources.org or Lydia Ball with the Nevada Clean Energy Coalition at lydia.ball@sierraclub.org. 2. White PineLocation: Ely Company: White Pine Energy Associates (LS Power and Dynergy) Type: Conventional pulverized coal Megawatts (MW): 1,590 Owner: Merchant More information: In April 2007, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management issued a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS), assessing the environmental impacts from the proposed plant. The DEIS reported that the plant would emit, among other pollutants, 330 pounds of mercury, 4,812 tons of nitrogen oxides and 6,071 tons of sulfur dioxide per year. In addition to these dangerous pollutants, the plant and the nearby Ely Energy Center would consume over 2.6 billion gallons of water each year – an amount that would greatly affect an arid state already struggling with water issues. The Nevada Clean Energy Coalition (NCEC) is mobilizing the residents of the area against the proposed plant. The National Park Service has also raised serious concerns about the plant, based on the large impact it would have on nearby Great Basin National Park. Nevada has the second strongest renewable energy standards in the country, but Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific have yet to meet all the requirements of the law. Nevada has the opportunity to lead to the nation in renewable energy, but allowing the construction of additional coal plants would lead Nevada away from reaching its renewable resource potential. Contact: Charles Benjamin with Western Resource Advocates at cbenjamin@westernresources.org or Lydia Ball with the Nevada Clean Energy Coalition at lydia.ball@sierraclub.org. 3. Ely Energy CenterLocation: Ely Company: Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Type: Conventional pulverized coal Megawatts (MW): 1,500 Owner: Utility More information: Like the other proposed Nevada coal plants, the construction of the Ely Energy Center would lead Nevada away from the renewable energy future that is possible. It would also have significant effects on the air and water quality in Nevada. The state is already a major producer of mercury emissions due to mining, and the Center would add 87 pounds of mercury to the air each year. Its other annual emissions would include 10.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, 3,044 tons of nitrogen oxides, 3,044 tons of sulfuric oxides, particulates and other dangerous pollutants. Combined with the proposed White Pine plant in Ely, the two plants would consume over 2.6 billion gallons of water each year – an amount that would greatly affect an arid state already struggling with water issues. The Nevada Clean Energy Coalition (NCEC) is fighting the plant through mobilizing grassroots support and educating the public and the media. Contact: Charles Benjamin with Western Resource Advocates at cbenjamin@westernresources.org or Lydia Ball with the Nevada Clean Energy Coalition at lydia.ball@sierraclub.org. |
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