New Power Plant Proposed Near Las Vegas

In a joint venture, Enova Corp. and Houston Industries will build a $280-million, natural-gas-fired power plant near Las Vegas to generate energy for sale in the Western United States. Enova Vice President Dwain Boettcher said Enova, parent of San Diego Gas & Electric, plans to build more energy plants, principally in the Northeastern United States, but not necessarily in partnership with Houston Industries. The new Nevada plant will come on line in 2000, the same year that Nevada’s electricity market will be open to competition. Houston Industries is parent of Houston’s largest power utility, Houston Light & Power. The “merchant” power facility, to be located in Boulder City, will generate a top capacity of 480 megawatts, or enough to light nearly half a million homes. . . . In a separate development, Enova said that upon the completion of its proposed merger with Los Angeles-based Pacific Enterprises, the merged entity will be known as Sempra Energy. The name is derived from the Latin word semper, which means “always.”