Tetra Tech was selected by Sierra Pacific Resources (SPR) to obtain an air quality Permit to Construct for the largest power generation project in Nevada. The $3.7 billion Ely Energy Center (EEC) will be constructed near Ely, Nevada, in White Pine County. The EEC is a vital part of SPR’s integrated resource plan for supplying electric power to meet Nevada’s growing electrical demand. The proposed EEC will consist of two supercritical, pulverized coal-fired boilers that will fire western sub-bituminous coal. Each unit will be rated at 750 megawatts nominal generating capacity. Together, the units will generate enough energy to power 900,000 homes.

Tetra Tech is providing full air permitting support for this project and has provided analysis to select the state-of-the-art control equipment that is considered to be the best available control technology for removing air pollutants. As part of the application process, Tetra Tech is providing Class I and Class II air dispersion modeling analysis including visibility impact analysis, inversion height analysis, and fog modeling for hybrid cooling towers at the proposed generating station. In addition, Tetra Tech will perform risk assessments and hazardous air pollutant modeling analysis and provide support for preparing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) required under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. Tetra Tech will also assist SPR in obtaining a Chemical Accident Prevention Program permit for the facility.