March 22, 2010

Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid, Mesquite Mayor Susan Holecheck, and Tony James, the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Blackstone Group, today announced the plan to build a natural gas plant at the Toquop site near Mesquite.  Sithe Global Power, the Blackstone Group’s portfolio company, had planned to build a coal-fired power plant at the Toquop site, but has abandoned that idea and returned to their original plan to build a natural gas plant.  When construction of the plant begins it will take three years, cost $1.4 billion and create as many as 1,000 jobs for Nevadans.

“This announcement means jobs for Nevada.  I thank Sithe Global for embracing our state’s role as a leader in developing clean energy and making an investment in our state that will help out Nevadans to work and lead us toward energy independence,” Reid said.  “Clean natural gas projects like this will help us use this clean energy source to strengthen our economy while protecting Nevada’s great outdoors.”

“The City of Mesquite extends its gratitude to Senator Reid.  He has been such an advocate against coal, not only on our behalf, but has been tenacious in his encouragement for America to break its longstanding dependence on fossil fuels, as well as to build a clean energy economy,” Mesquite Mayor Susan Holecheck said.  “I, as does Senator Reid, believe it is incumbent on all of us to say no to resources such as coal and yes to sources which are not only healthier to our people and our environment, but in the long run will employ more people at higher wages.” 

“We thank Senator Reid for his leadership and look forward to continuing to work with him to bring this project to completion,” said Tony James, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Blackstone Group.  “The Toquop project will combine natural gas and solar power generation to bring clean and renewable electricity to the people of Nevada.  As Nevada grows in the years to come, Toquop will play an increasingly central role not only in providing jobs in the local economy but also in meeting the state’s energy needs.”

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