NV Energy, a leading provider of electricity in Nevada and in northeastern California, has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with NextLight Renewable Power, a leading solar power development company in the nation, for the power to be generated at NextLight’s Silver State Solar Power project located near Primm, Nevada.
The 50-MW solar plant is sited on Bureau of Land Management land and will be connected to Bighorn substation owned by NV Energy. The substation is located next to the project site. The project, which will utilize solar photovoltaic panels, is scheduled to begin construction in December 2010. The solar project will create about 230 construction jobs during the development stage and is planned to start commercial production in May 2011.
President and Chief Executive Officer of NV Energy, Michael Yackira, said the company is pleased to be partnering with NextLight, as it will benefit its customers and the project will utilize state’s ample solar resources. As per the Nevada Renewable Energy Act, energy from solar resources should contribute 6% of the total renewable energy credits and the power from this new project will help NV Energy to comply with the requirement, Yackira said.
CEO of NextLight, Frank De Rosa, said that NV Energy is an important partner for the company in this region and it has the capability to integrate energy from renewable sources into the prevailing form of electricity generation. The specific terms and details about the power purchase contract were not disclosed.