Despite Community Concerns with Gas Prices and Pollution, NV Energy Opening a New Gas Peaker Plant

Media Contact:
Carolina Chacon | carolina@chaconconsulting.com | 702-810-7155

While the community continues to support a transition to low-cost clean energy, NV Energy doubles down on costly fossil fuels

LAS VEGAS – Yesterday, after an expedited process that included little to no community input, NV Energy’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to build a new methane gas plant received the approval of the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN). The 440 MW Silverhawk Peaking Plant will be the first gas plant added by NV Energy since 2014.

“We are deeply disappointed in the PUCN’s quick approval of NV Energy’s disastrous proposal to open a new polluting gas plant,” said Estefany Carrasco Gonzalez, Chispa National Director. “This decision will hinder Nevada’s ability to transition to our stated goals of achieving 50% renewable energy by 2030, and it will put consumers on the hook paying for costly new fossil fuel infrastructure that will accelerate the climate crisis. Worse yet, out-of-control gas prices have already hurt our families’ ability to budget for basic living expenses.” 

“Just last month, Latinx consumers told the PUCN that they can’t afford to keep up with the rising costs of gas and want to see more investments in low-cost clean and renewable energy,” said Juan Carlos Guardado, Chispa Nevada organizer. “NV Energy doubling down on gas is wrong for our environment and bad for our pocketbooks.”

Methane gas, branded as “natural” gas by the fossil fuel industry, releases potent greenhouse gasses that are more powerful and more polluting than carbon dioxide. Peaker plants like this one are disproportionately located near or in low-income communities and communities of color, exposing families to deadly toxins that poison our health and our environment. Methane gas is also imported from out of state, sidelining Nevada’s vast solar and clean energy potential. 

“The rushed approval for NV Energy’s IRP reveals a broken planning process that ignores consumer concerns with methane gas and with fossil fuels generally,” continued Carrasco Gonzalez. “We urge the PUCN, NV Energy and other stakeholders to be responsive to our communities and to consider alternative solutions that focus on energy efficiency, reliability and cost-savings, and to account for the environmental and public health consequences of fossil fuels when they plan for and approve new infrastructure.” 

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Chispa Nevada is a program of the League of Conservation Voters that builds the power of Latinx communities to fight for climate justice and our democracy. Visit us at https://chispalcv.org for more information.