Water OK’d for proposed power plant

Single Sign-On: You can use Facebook account to log in to LasVegasSun.com. (We will use your first and last name from your profile.)
Trusted Commenting: Facebook connected users automatically become trusted commenters.

Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2001 | 10:52 a.m.

The Las Vegas Valley Water District Board approved an agreement with GenWest L.L.C. on Tuesday that allows the power company to use part of the district's ground water for building and operating a 500-megawatt generating station.

In exchange, GenWest will offer 25 percent of electricity generated at its air-cooled plant for Nevada's use. The plant could generate enough electricity to serve 250,000 Las Vegas homes in summer months.

In March, State Engineer Hugh Ricci issued the water district 2,200 acre-feet of rights to ground water at Apex, about 15 miles north of Las Vegas.

The water district board approved in June agreements similar to GenWest's with Duke Energy Moapa and Mirant Las Vegas for 1,400 acre-feet of the district's water share for two other power stations at Apex.