Mesquite Insights

It is not a well known matter, but Nevada has the 3rd highest number of earthquakes of all the 50 states.  Nevada is slowly being pulled apart.  The mountain ranges are separating - widening the valleys and pulling some of the landscape to the SW.  Near Mesquite are the Virgin Mountains.  Granite peaks towering up to nearly 10,000 ft.  But there are portions of the granite range that are now located SW of Las Vegas.  Over millions of years the land has spread 80 miles or more.

There are a number of small earthquakes around the state every day.  But very recently there was a large earthquake in NE Nevada.  Registering over 6.0, it was violent but caused little damage.  Events such as this remind everyone why Nevada has a building code that includes earthquake provisions.

If you are planning a trip to Mesquite in the near future, you can monitor Mesquite's enticing weather forecasts at www.mesquiteweather.com  (bring your shorts and sun tan lotion - spring is here and summer is coming) and from there you will find a link to the USGS earthquake site to find more information on earthquakes in NV, CA or elsewhere. 

Is a new power plant in Mesquite's future?  When I bought a home in Mesquite almost 10 years ago, there was a rumor floating about regarding the construction of a gas-fired power plant near Mesquite.  It was said that the power would be used in Mesquite and that there would be 100s of jobs.

Not too far back, it became evident that a power plant was very likely going to be built on land in Lincoln County about 10 miles from Mesquite.  And the proposal was still for the facility to be gas-fired.  But somewhere along the way, the fuel source changed to coal.  And now we are working through a very emotionally charged controversy about the matter.

Let's look at some of the facts behind the controversy and the proposed plant.  Coal would be mined in Wyoming and hauled to the plant site by train.  And the plant would burn plenty of coal - over 100 rail cars per day!  A rail line would be constructed to the site as would new roads.  Not only do power plants require considerable fuel, they also require a considerable amount of water to run steam generators.  And water is a precious resource in the drought stricken desert SW.

Besides the issue of water, the most controversial aspect has been the emissions and waste material generated by the power plant.  Air emissions include particulates, mercury, sulfur compounds, and radiation.  While the plant would be designed to standards that would meet the air requirements for Mesquite's airshed, it is obvious that the impact would be "visible."   

It may be difficult to identify any benefit to Mesquite from the proposed power plant.  Not only would the power be dumped into the power grid (mostly to help satisfy the energy demand in California), but any tax revenue generated would stay in Lincoln County.  To many residents, the power plant would be bad for Mesquite.  It is amazing that not all the "players" in Mesquite have come out in opposition - "players" that include all the developers such as Pulte-DelWebb, the Chamber of Commerce, Mesa View Hospital and all other local businesses.  It would seem that Mesquite has much to lose and nothing to gain!