Nevada Appeal 6-2-10

Geothermal plant eyed for pipeline

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Southern Nevada Water Authority is moving ahead with plans to build a geothermal plant for a planned pipeline that would send water from eastern Nevada to the Las Vegas area.

The water authority on May 11 purchased a lease on 4,473 acres south of Ely from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management for about $9,000.

The land the agency is leasing hasn't been thoroughly evaluated for its geothermal potential, which is why the lease price was low — just $2 an acre.

Moving the water will take a huge amount of electricity, which the agency doesn't have.

The pipeline faces hurdles that could take years to resolve.