Southern Co.’s Southern Energy Inc. announced plans to build anelectric generation facility of up to 1,000 MW as part of thedevelopment of the Apex Industrial Park in southern Nevada.Southern Energy expects the power station to begin commercialoperation in the first quarter of 2003.

If approved by the state, the complex would represent a re-entryinto the Nevada market for Southern. Buddy Eller, a companyspokesman, said Southern used to have generation facilities inNevada but has not had a presence there in several years.

Under the terms of the deal, Southern Energy will assist ApexIndustrial Park Inc. in developing the 10,000-acre site north ofLas Vegas, build a generation facility and work with public andprivate entities to recruit new industries to the site. Southernsaid it is too early in the process to decide how much gas it willburn and who the supplier will be. The company expects to open abusiness development office in the Las Vegas area to serve as aheadquarters for recruiting new business investment to the Apexsite.

“This project is a classic example of what Southern Energy doesbest — working with businesses and local governments to bring newjobs and capital investment to areas served by our power-generationfacilities,” said Richard J. Pershing, president of SouthernEnergy’s Americas Group. “The Las Vegas area is one of the mostvibrant, fast-growing economies in the United States.”

The Apex Industrial Park is located about 15 miles north of LasVegas, with access to major highways and railroad lines, giving itexcellent access to West Coast markets. The site also is served bymajor gas and electric transmission infrastructures.

John Norris

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