LAS VEGAS, May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today NV Energy (NYSE: NVE) celebrated a major step toward southern Nevada's energy independence with the dedication of the new 484 megawatt combined-cycle addition at the existing 144 megawatt Harry Allen Generating Station.

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Located 25 miles north of Las Vegas, the new facility will enable the plant to provide enough energy to supply approximately 375,000 homes. With the addition of this new generating station, NV Energy can now meet approximately 80 percent of the peak energy needs of southern Nevada.

"The Harry Allen Generating Station addition marks the completion of a building initiative that we began in 2006 to increase Nevada's energy independence," said Michael Yackira, NV Energy president and chief executive officer. "Since then, we've strengthened our generation portfolio nearly 250 percent making our portfolio, by percentage, one of the fastest growing in the nation."

The new facility exemplifies NV Energy's strategy to invest in efficient, natural gas-fueled generation. The plant also utilizes a dry-cooling system that allows it to produce electricity using only 6 percent of the water required by similar facilities and other technology that recycles 75 percent of the water used.

"The emission rates for the new facility are among the lowest in the industry, and the amount of electricity generated for a specific amount of natural gas fuel will be among the best in the nation," Yackira said.

The Harry Allen combined-cycle addition consists of two combustion turbine generators, similar to the turbines that power jet airplanes. They are combined with two heat recovery steam generators that capture waste heat from the turbines that is then used to produce steam to power a single steam turbine generator, creating additional electricity.

Construction on the facility began in November 2007 and employed nearly 750 workers at the peak of construction. Principal contractors for the project were Shaw Group, for engineering procurement and construction services; General Electric, for combustion and steam turbine equipment; and Vogt for the heat recovery steam generator. 

Headquartered in Las Vegas, NV Energy, Inc. is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company, are doing business as NV Energy. Serving a 44,424 -square-mile service territory that stretches north to south from Elko to Laughlin, 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.

SOURCE NV Energy