Water permits issued for power plants

Thursday, March 22, 2001 | 11:22 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- State Engineer Hugh Ricci said today he has approved applications by the Las Vegas Valley Water District to pump 2,200 acre-feet of water in Hidden Valley, northeast of Las Vegas, that will allow the construction of power plants.

Ricci said he was informed by the water district that it would be able to negotiate for an amount of power produced to remain in Southern Nevada in exchange for the water.

These two applications for pumping in Clark County have been on file since 1989 and were part of the water districts plans to draw water from three rural counties to serve Las Vegas. Those applications have not been acted on.

Ricci said there have been a number of studies of the underground water supply in this area. There are different conclusions on the available water.

An acre-foot of water is enough to serve a family of five for a year.

Mike Turnipseed, director of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, told the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee today that this would permit such companies as Duke, Reliant and Mirant to move forward with their plan for power plants in this area.