Reid Gardner Generating Station

Reid Gardner Generating Station is a 557 megawatt coal fired plant on 480 acres (190 ha)[1] located near Moapa, Nevada. It is co-owned by Nevada Power (69%) and California Department of Water Resources (31%). The plant consists of four units. The first three are 100 MW units and were placed into service in 1965, 1968 and 1976. The fourth unit placed into service in 1983 produces 257 megawatts (345,000 hp).[2] Three units of Reid Gardner will be shut down this 2014; the fourth will go in 2017.

Controversy

Due to its location adjacent to the Moapa Band of Paiutes reservation and one of their communities, the plant has long been a concern over the health effects on the nearby residents.[3] As a result of several agreements to improve the air quality around the plant, the upgraded plant is ranked as one of the 10 cleanest coal plants in the US.[2]

Concerns have also been expressed over particulates in the air as the plant can be upwind of the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon. Both of these canyons are Class I areas which place limits on the amount of haze allowed.[4]

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Reid Gardner Station is a major emitter of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas contributing to global warming.[5] California's Department of Water Resources is planning to sell its stake in the plant, and purchase less carbon-intensive electricity as a part of its overall plan to reduce emissions mandated by California law (AB32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006):

Electricity from the plant produces disproportionally high amounts of GHGs as compared to other SWP electricity generation sources. Emissions from Reid Gardner for electricity delivered to DWR have typically been over 1.5 million mtCO2e [million metric tonnes CO2 equivalents] per year (30%-50% of total DWR operational emissions). Between 1997 and 2007, the average emissions rate from Reid Gardner for electricity supplied to DWR has been 1.116 mtCO2e/MWh. This is more than twice the emissions rate associated with the general pool electricity from the integrated California market. (CA DWR 2012, page 54)

Waste

The coal ash from the plant is stored on site in a 91-acre (37 ha) landfill.[3]

Notes

  1. ↑ "NV Energy — Reid Gardner Power Station". Nevada Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Reid Gardner Generating Station" (PDF). Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  3. 1 2 "Moving from Coal to Clean Energy in Nevada". Sierra Club. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  4. ↑ "U.S. FACT SHEET" (PDF). August 13, 2012. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
  5. ↑ Schwarz, Andrew (2012). Climate Action Plan Phase 1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan (PDF). Sacramento, California: California Department of Water Resources.

Coordinates: 36°39′25″N 114°38′02″W / 36.657°N 114.634°W / 36.657; -114.634 (Reid Gardner Generating Station)

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