Geothermal project developer Ormat Technologies Inc. has started commercial operations of the second phase of its McGinness Hills project located in Lander County, Nevada.
The start of the second phase brings the project’s total operating capacity to 76 megawatts. The plant has started selling its output to NV Energy at a new energy rate of US$85.58 per megawatt hour under an amended power-purchase agreement that includes a 1% annual escalator through December 2032.
The second phase broke ground on March 2014 following resource confirmation and excellent performance of the first phase of McGinness Hills, which had been operational since June 2012. The project received $140 million from the Department of Energy’s loan guarantee program.