(Washington, DC) - Mesquite Mayor Susan Holecheck, Nevada Senator Harry Reid and Hamilton "Tony" E. James, the President and Chief Operating Officer of the Blackstone Group, announced Monday the plan to build a natural gas plant at the Toquop site near Mesquite, Nevada. Sithe Global Power, the Blackstone Group’s portfolio company, had planned to build a coal-fired power plant at the Toquop site, but has returned to their original plan to build a natural gas plant combined with solar energy. When construction of the plant begins it will take three years, cost $1.45 billion and create as many as 1,000 jobs for Nevadans. Ground breaking is expected before the end of the year on the solar project, according to Reid.

“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 put Nevadans to work and lead us toward energy independence,” Reid said. “Clean natural gas projects like this will help us strengthen our economy while protecting Nevada’s great outdoors," he added.

“The City of Mesquite extends its gratitude to Senator Reid. He has been 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 believe, as does Senator Reid, that it's incumbent on us all to encourage and promote effective and efficent use of resources which are not only healthier for our people and 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 James 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 continues to grow in the years to come, Toquop will play an increasingly central role not only in providing jobs in the local economy but also meet the state’s energy needs," said James.

The Toquop Power plant will generate 700 megawatts of power with natural gas and 100 megawatts of energy from solar arrays reducing the need of water for the Toquop Energy Project by 60-percent, according James. The Blackstone Group owns 80-percent of Sithe Global Energy company.

Source: Press Conference audio provided by Bryan Dangerfield, City of Mesquite Public Information Director and press release from Senator Harry Reid's Washington office.

For information about the Blackstone Group go to www.blackstone.com.