US utility NV Energy is seeking approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUC) for the construction of a 100MW solar power project.
The single-axis solar photovoltaic project, which is in development phase in Eldorado Valley, is subject to regulatory approval. It is planned to be commissioned in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Power generated from the solar project will be sold to Techren Solar under a 25-year power purchase agreement.
NV Energy’s energy supply senior vice-president of Kevin Geraghty said: "At an average cost of energy for the life of the project at approximately four cents per kilowatt-hour, this is one of the lowest-cost solar projects in the nation.
“And, we are very pleased with the fact that Techren has already signed a work-site agreement with local unions 357 and 396 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.”
In its Emissions Reduction and Capacity Replacement second amendment filing with the PUC, the utility has also requested approval for the closure of the remaining 257MW unit at the Reid Gardner coal-fired power station earlier than planned.
The firm plans to prepone the power plant retire date from 31 December 2017 to 18 February of the same year, as it shifts its focus towards a cleaner and more balanced generation portfolio.
NV Energy has already closed the first three generating units at the Reid Gardner power plant at the end of 2014.
The project is co-owned by NV Energy with 69% stake and California Department of Water Resources with 31% interest.
The request comes as a result of Nevada legislature's 2013 directive, which aims to close and replace all the coal-fired power plants in southern Nevada with renewable energy and natural gas-fueled resources.
NV Energy expects the decision from the PUC by the end of this year.
Image: Power generated from the proposed 100MW solar project in Nevada will be sold to Techren Solar. Photo: courtesy of Naypong/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net.