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Published Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 | 12:55 p.m.
Updated Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 | 12:59 p.m.
Sen. Harry Reid announced Monday that the Department of Interior gave its final approval for Nevada’s first solar thermal plant, a project Reid said is also likely to create about 500 jobs.
The 110-megawatt Crescent Dune Solar Energy Project, based in Nye County, is the design of California-based developer SolarReserve, and is expected to produce enough energy to power up to 75,000 homes during peak demand seasons.
It's unique among the state’s existing solar plants because of a heat storage technology that allows the turbines to keep working even after the sun has set. Slated to be completed in 2013, the project will eventually cover about 3,000 acres near Tonopah. NV Energy is expected to purchase whatever power is generated for distribution.
“Clean energy projects like Crescent Dunes not only reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but put Nevadans back to work,” Reid said. “I will continue leveraging my position as Majority Leader to make certain that Nevada always leads the nation in the creation of clean energy jobs.”
The news comes a few days after Reid announced $50 million in funding for a Solar Demonstration Zone at the Nevada National Security Site — there are seven “solar energy zones” around the state, a designation that aids expediting permitting processes to bring commercial solar projects online.
500 jobs is peanuts. Plus how many are permanent? 10? I voted for Harry because Angle was/is lost and deranged, but this article is "Mice Nuts", too minor to consider as good news.
You've got to do better than this, Harry. But I guess with six more years on the table, you could really care less. How's that Rory doin'?
What is the cost to taxpayers for the 110-megawatt Crescent Dune Solar Energy Project?
Have to start somewhere doogie!
Here is a link to a press release on the project: http://solarreserve.com/news/SolarReserv...
Appears about 450 construction jobs for two years and then around 45 permanent jobs plus, stimulus to local supplies and to the tax base.
Not sure on taxpayer funds. Company appears to be private but if you search the name of the plant there appears to be links to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO which is DOE.
I don't know Thomas. What is the cost to taxpayers of fossil fuel generation with all external costs internalized?
Is solar power going to cost me more, or less, than existing forms? If Harry would allow homeowners to install solar panels on the roof, plug into the grid and get a monthly credit from NV Energy for the power generated, now we would have a real difference maker - but too much loss of control for the government in that scenario.
TonOpah NOT Tonapah, G-dd-mn it!
Have you ever been North of North Las Vegas?
Tono-pa-ah, (or in some dialects of Paiute tono-ba-ah)... meaning "little" or "scanty" water.
@ vegasd8 - There is nothing stopping you from installing solar/photovoltaic panels on your house, and if there is it's probably your HOA and not the government.
Where did you get this wrong information? Fox News !?!?!
There are even tile manufacturers who have the solar cells in the roof tiles.
This line of "the government & Harry Reid won't allow...." is a load of lies..........even apartment complexes have solar cells for their parking lot lighting ......sheesh, what a know nothing!
Iraq Wars for oil = 2 trillion? What happened to the $1 gas that was going to result from the Iraq War???
NV Energy was recently FORCED to reveal how much it was paying for solar energy.
It was 2 to 3 times energy that came from fossil sources.
I guess Reid and the Democrats want to reduce our standard of living and kill jobs.
45 permanent jobs sounds like great news for Tonapah, population ~2000.
I also think it is great that this emerging technology is being tested on a large scale. What do we do after the sun goes down is a problem that has been plaguing solar for a long time, and it is great that people are making progress towards solving the problem.
"If Harry would allow homeowners to install solar panels on the roof, plug into the grid and get a monthly credit from NV Energy for the power generated, now we would have a real difference maker - but too much loss of control for the government in that scenario."
Actually, you can do exactly what you describe. There are also federal and state incentives to help you with the cost. It is also against Nevada state law for an HOA to prevent you from installing in a way that would reduce the efficiency by more than a small percentage, so they can't prevent you from installing because your neighbors think it's an eyesore.
Anybody who wants more info can google "solargenerations"
VegasEngineer - Thanks for the information & verifying my post above.
I don't know where these people get some of their information!? It's amazing how uninformed or misinformed people are.
The TeaHeads hate the idea of solar or wind parks in the state, but are all for a nuclear waste dump.
Ponderous man, really ponderous..
Did NvPower lay off anyone due to the recession? Did NvPower stop giving raises to combat the loss of revenue? The power commision is doing a good job looking out for the people by limiting their rate increases? Customer service takes 45 minutes to pick up a call. Seems NVPower employees are feeling the pain like most in Vegas?
A Georgia Tech study concludes that if the state invested in more renewable energy, it would eventually result in lower electricity rates.
The cost of energy is going to keep going up says Georgia Tech researcher Marilyn Brown. Projections show electricity will cost about 2 cents more per kilowatt hour by 2030. But Brown says if state policy was friendlier to renewable energy-- people wouldn't have to pay as much in the future.
All you tea party and Angle supporters,ask yourself if those 500 jobs would have happened if she had been elected.
I was impressed by the commentary, entitled "learn from Portugal's renewable energy policy", stating that :
With Portugal's active renewable energy policy, the residents in Lisbon have seen their electricity bills rise nearly 16% in the last five years. But as the initial investment expense decreases, and as the nature of fuel-free energy sources entails little maintenance costs, prices will plateau and eventually decrease.
Meanwhile, British households have also faced a big rise in their bills -- 14% -- in the same five-year period, to the great delight of shareholders of private British energy firms.
Wheree will the solar panels be manufactured? U.S. Prison labor or in India...as I have read before about a year ago.
As we are all aware, construction sector provides vast benefits for economic vitality, and plays a great role in job boost, if it leaves virtually no maintenance staff.
Clean energy development, likewise, could breathe life into the region.
Technically, the sun NEVER goes down.
You see, the way it works is the Earth rotates and keeps moving Nevada into the shadows.
So to maintain power through the night...either:
1- put the sun panels on hot-air balloons and keep them moving so that they are always picking up sunlight, transmitting the energy through CLEAR wireless or something to the ground or
2- line up 3.65 (rough, scientific estimate) billion. 12 volt car batteries and charge them during the day.
Oh...and the casinos could take turns, turning their lights on and off, all night to save on the 3.65 billion car batteries' stored charge.
Hey! I'm just here to help.
So...if anyone has any technical questions for me...LOL
It's great that Reid wants to continue leveraging his position as Majority Leader to make certain that Nevada always leads the nation in the creation of clean energy jobs but unfortunate that it will help put stimulus package money into foreign pockets at the expense of the American tax payer.
Google the words "Chinese Firms Chase Stimulus Money" and draw your own conclusions.
"Actually, you can do exactly what you describe. There are also federal and state incentives to help you with the cost."
That is correct.
A decent solar system for a house cost around $40,000. Uncle Sam and others will kick in around half of that.
So yea....go ahead and put a $4-,000 solar system on a $150k house. Just come up with $20K. You might break even in 20 years.
Also you are actually charging the other $20k to your kid's credit card. The kid will work all his life and his children's life and so-on to pay the interest on the $20k.
Ain't America great!!!!!