By Editors of Power Engineering

NV Energy has permanently shut down the Reid Gardner Generating Station near Moapa, nine months ahead of schedule.

The coal-fired station, built in 1965, had already shut down three of its four units in 2014, and will be torn down over the next year. The first three units produced 100 MW each, and the final operating unit produced 257 MW.

NV Energy indicated the shutdown will help the company reach its goal of reducing its carbon emissions, consistent with the policy objectives of the state of Nevada. The company has reduced its carbon emissions 44 percent from 2005 to 2015.

“We are proud to be moving our state toward a more balanced and less carbon intense generation portfolio through coal-generation retirement and renewable energy development while keeping prices low for our customers,” said Starla Lacy, vice president of Environmental Services. “The renewable energy capacity NV Energy has secured for customers has seven times the capacity of the generating unit that was taken off the grid today.”

In 2013, Nevada utilities and stakeholders supported legislation that will eliminate 812 MW of coal-fired generation in southern Nevada by 2019, and replace that capacity with renewable energy or natural gas.

Part of that move will include the retirement of the Navajo Generating Station by December 2019.