Many regard the Ely Energy Center as an ideal development neighbor, as it will provide a significant tax base infusion and require very little in customary community services. For example, the Ely Energy Center will handle its own roads, water lines, sewer-treatment, security and safety modifications to the highway. However, it is estimated that – in the first 10 years alone – the plant will contribute more than $500 million to the local tax base.

Key benefits include:

• Tax Base: White Pine County and area communities will realize a significant tax base benefit because of the Ely Energy Center, which is estimated to be more than $500 million in the first 10 years, including additional property taxes and sales taxes on goods and services for the plant.

• Railway Upgrade Opportunity: In cooperation with the City of Ely and the White Pine Historic Railroad Foundation, the Ely Energy Center is expected to help rehabilitate a large portion of the Nevada Northern Railway. This has significant economic development potential for Ely and McGill.

• Jobs: The plant’s first phase will create 150 full-time, family-wage jobs. It is expected that there will be 250 quality jobs when the second phase is completed. The construction phase of the project is expected to create approximately 2,000 jobs at the height of the project. There will be opportunities for local employment for a few years, but many of these temporary jobs will require specific skills that will be supplied by regional and national workforces. The company has specific plans to help minimize the impacts of this temporary workforce on the local community.

• Indirect Economic Benefits: Although the facility will provide a "worker village" near the plant to help the local communities accommodate the short-term impact, additional indirect economic benefits will flow to the community in the form of additional services and sales.

• Good Neighbor: Sierra Pacific Resources has a 100-year history of being a good neighbor and supporting the communities where it does business.

Ely Energy Center Community Partnership Program

We are dedicated to working with the community—businesses, nonprofit groups and schools—to promote education and safety, and to enhance the quality of life in the communities where we do business.

We believe it's vital to serve as a good corporate citizen and to take a leadership role in helping to solve some of the issues facing our diverse communities. That's why we support programs that give us the chance to build partnerships that help meet community needs. We focus on measurable results and invest in programs that get to the heart of key issues.

As part of our commitment to the communities we serve, we focus on these key areas by investing our resources, talent and energy:

Environment
We have partnerships that promote environmental stewardship. In addition, we support programs that promote recycling and conservation as well as efforts that motivate communities to maintain and enhance their natural resources.

Health and safety
We partner with hospitals, fire departments and the police by supporting programs that improve public safety and help meet the needs of people facing adversity.

Education
We partner with schools and support programs that urge children to succeed in math, science and technology. We also provide support for efforts that increase student achievement and help keep kids in school.