County approves new power plant near Moapa

Thursday, March 21, 2002 | 9:30 a.m.

A new power plant received the go-ahead from a split Clark County Commission Wednesday over the objections of some residents, county planning staff and environmentalists.

Commissioners approved by a 5-1 vote the zoning request to allow PG&E National Energy Group to move forward with the planned 1,200-megawatt, natural-gas powered plant in MeadowValley, near the Lincoln County line.

The zoning affects 155 acres of Bureau of Land Management property. The plant is one of about a dozen proposed for Clark County. Another proposed plant near Goodsprings was pulled from Wednesday's zoning agenda.

Richard Bryan, the former Democratic governor and senator, represented the BLM and PG&E National Energy Group on the application. He reminded the commissioners what can happen without enough electricity.

"On July 2 of last year, the unthinkable occurred," Bryan said. "We had a blackout."

Bryan said the plant may use water to cool its turbines, which is officially frowned upon in Clark County, but the plant's design would lead to low levels of air pollution.

The water-pumping infrastructure and rights to the water used for cooling also would be turned over to the public Moapa Valley Water District after the 25-year lifetime of the plant, Bryan and land-use consultant Greg Borgel said.

Van Robinson, Moapa Valley Water District general manager, spoke for the proposed power plant, which would provide enough power for about 600,000 homes.

Also speaking for the project were Bob Lewis and several of his relatives. Lewis, a Moapa Valley rancher, plans to sell water he now uses to irrigate his farmland to the power company.

"Right now the water is being used for agricultural purposes," Lewis said. "It supports less than 10 full-time workers."

Other residents spoke for the plant, arguing that it could provide jobs for the small community nestled about a mile northeast of the project.

But not all residents support the proposal.

Bruce Lund, a member of the Moapa Town Advisory Board, said he was the only member of his board to vote against the plant. He said rezoning the land from rural-open space to light industrial would be premature.

He said the zoning should wait until a federally mandated environmental impact statement is completed.

Elise McAllister, a secretary from a family that has lived in the area for generations, submitted a petition to the commission with 70 signatures asking the board to deny the zoning application.

"It seems like it would be an overwhelming structure in our neighborhood," McAllister said. "I will see it, hear it and smell it every day."

Planning staff members had raised concerns about noise and the effect the plant's emissions might have on air quality.

Borgel and Bryan said noise should not be an issue for residents about a mile away. The commissioners also required the plant to receive a permit from Clark County Air Quality Management before the zoning goes into effect.

Bryan said many of the environmental issues raised by staff, residents and activists would be resolved through the process of preparing a full environmental impact statement, required under federal law.

Some residents asked why the plant couldn't be located on other federal land nearby. Borgel said the facilities to provide water and gas and to deliver energy to the power grid all come together at the spot.

Jane Feldman, an activist with the local arm of the Sierra Club, also submitted a petition against the zoning.

She said cooling the plant with water -- enough for about 5,000 families -- doesn't make sense in the Mojave Desert.

"We have already used so much water that our rivers and washes that used to be filled with life are dead," Feldman said.

Commissioners Erin Kenny, Mary Kincaid-Chauncey and Myrna Williams said they supported the plant, although they shared some of the same concerns about water and air-quality issues.

Commission Chairman Dario Herrera cast the lone vote against the plant. Herrera, who is running for a new congressional seat that would include Meadow Valley and has visited with residents from the area, said he wasn't convinced that the company couldn't have found another site.

He said he also took the comments from Feldman, of the Sierra Club, to heart.

"The county has a pretty strong record in terms of requiring power plants to be developed with air-cooled technology," Herrera said. Air-cooled power plants put more pollution into the air, but use far less water than traditional water-cooled plants.

Residents opposed to the plant and representatives from PG&E National Energy Group said the dispute is not closed. During preparation of the environmental impact statement, the company will have to accept public testimony.

Bryan said, however, that if the environmental assessment passes federal muster and local permits are forthcoming the plant could be up and running in about three years.

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