NV Energy to Purchase Power from Central Nevada Geothermal Plant

The generating plant is being developed on one of five geothermal leases that Ram Power has acquired from the Bureau of Land Management in Esmeralda County, approximately halfway between Reno and Las Vegas. According to the developer, Clayton Valley has sufficient geothermal resources to produce up to 160 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to serve up to 96,000 households. The project will be developed and operated by Ram Power subsidiary Clayton Valley 1, LLC.

“We’re pleased to add more clean renewable energy to our supply portfolio and to expand our use of geothermal power,” said NV Energy President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Yackira. “The advantage of geothermal energy is that it’s available for our customers around the clock.”

NV Energy currently has more than 1,000 megawatts of geothermal, solar power, biomass, hydro, waste-heat recovery and wind energy under contract or in the project development stage.

“Based on the 25 years of geothermal project development that Ram Power management has enjoyed in Nevada, we look forward to a successful project and the start of a new era in geothermal power generation in the state,” said Ram Power Chief Executive Officer Hezy Ram. “We anticipate the project will be eligible for various federal and state tax incentives once completed.”

NV Energy and Pattern Energy Group LP have entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) for the sale of energy produced from a proposed wind energy project to be located in eastern Nevada.

The 150 MW Spring Valley Wind Power Project would be Nevada’s first major wind farm and is expected to generate electricity by late 2011. The project is expected to create more than 150 jobs during the construction phase and approximately 10 permanent positions, according to NV Energy.

Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, NV Energy, Inc. is a holding company with principal subsidiaries, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company, doing business as NV Energy. Serving a combined 54,500-square-mile service territory, NV Energy provides a wide range of energy services and products to approximately 2.4 million citizens of Nevada and nearly 40 million tourists annually.

Ram Power Corporation is a renewable energy company based in Reno, Nevada, engaged in the business of acquiring, exploring, developing, and operating geothermal properties and has an interest in geothermal projects primarily in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. 

www.ram-power.com

www.nvenergy.com