Company planning $20 million plant will sell to NV Energy

A company called Energenic today announced plans to build a $20 million power plant that will burn landfill gas extracted from wells at Republic Services' Apex Regional Landfill north of Las Vegas.

The plant, to open in late 2011, will sell 11 megawatts of electricity to NV Energy -- enough to serve 6,000 to 7,000 homes during peak-load periods in the summer months when air conditioners operate nearly constantly to cool homes and other buildings.

The plant and 20-year power purchase deal was announced by NV Energy and CC Landfill Energy LLC, which is owned and operated by Energenic.

Energenic is a partnership between long-term business partners Marina Energy and DCO Energy. Energenic has developed and constructed similar plants throughout the United States, including recent projects in New Jersey and Maryland.

Energenic, with offices in Las Vegas and Mays Landing, N.J., is already known in Las Vegas for developing the utility plant providing chilled water, hot water and electricity to the new CityCenter gaming resort complex on the Las Vegas Strip. A similar Energenic plant is planned for the stalled Echelon resort on the Strip.

Named the Apex Landfill Renewable Energy Generating Facility, the partners said the new plant will reduce dependence on natural resources and improve air quality and carbon emissions.

Financial terms weren't immediately disclosed, including those involving Republic Services. Republic will be paid for its gas, an Energenic spokeswoman said.

NV Energy Chief Executive Michael Yackira said in a statement: “This project is remarkable because it recovers otherwise unused landfill gas, cleans the gas with state of the art technology and then uses that gas as fuel to generate renewable energy for our customers.”

The landfill gas is now vented to the atmosphere, an NV Energy spokesman said.

“Landfill gas -- a clean, renewable energy source -- will help Nevada meet its recent commitment to increase its renewable energy portfolio standard,” Jim O’Connor, chairman and chief executive of Republic Services Inc., said in a statement. “This project, once again, demonstrates Republic’s commitment to being part of the solution and its leadership in generating renewable energy from solid waste.”

The Apex Landfill Renewable Energy Generating Facility is one of more than 35 existing or proposed renewable energy facilities in Nevada, NV Energy said.

NV Energy said the landfill gas plant will assist NV Energy in meeting Nevada’s renewable energy portfolio standard, which was recently increased by the Legislature. The standard requires that 25 percent of NV Energy’s sales be generated by renewable resources and energy-efficiency and conservation programs by 2025.