537.3 MW Natural Gas operating in Clark, NV — California Independent System Operator
537.3 MW
Nameplate Capacity
3
Generators
units
Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle
Technology
2000
Operating Since
Coordinates
35.7889, -114.9942
County
Clark, NV
Nearby Plants
| Field | EIA | GEM | Wikidata |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Desert Star Energy Center SDG&E | — | — |
| Owner(s) | Desert Star Energy Center SDG&E | — | — |
| Status | Operating | — | — |
Desert Star Energy Center is a 537.3 MW natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant located in Clark County, Nevada. The plant began operating in 2000 and is owned and operated by Desert Star Energy Center SDG&E. It consists of 3 generators using natural gas as its primary fuel. The plant operates within the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) balancing authority and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) NERC region.
In the most recent year with available data, Desert Star Energy Center generated 375,029 MWh, resulting in a capacity factor of 7.9%. The plant is ranked as the 8th largest in Nevada out of 13 plants, and nationally it is ranked 465th out of 945 plants. Financial data indicates an installed cost of $612.24 per kW, according to FERC data.
Generated from EIA, GEM, and public data sources
NERC Region
WECC
Balancing Authority
California Independent System Operator
Grid Voltage
230 kV
Regulatory Status
RE
Entity Type
Investor-Owned Utility
Sector
Electric Utility
472 MWh
Latest Month
375.0K MWh
Annual Generation
7.9%
Capacity Factor
$676/kW
Installed Cost
$50.0/MWh
Operating Cost
San Diego Gas & Electric Company
Reporting Utility
Annual Capital & Operating Expenses
Cumulative Installed Cost
Per-Unit Cost Trends
Point of Interconnection
Nearest Substation
Merchant Substation · 230 kV
Substation Distance
< 10 km
Coord Source
OSM spatial
Market Position
ISO/RTO Market
CAISO
LMP Node
MRCHNT13_7_N002
Pricing Hub
TH_SP15_GEN-APND
Secondary Zone
TH_ZP26_GEN-APND
Location Type
Pricing Node
Node Source
EIA-860 direct report
Man found dead after crash outside power facility in southern Nevada
A man fatally shot himself after his rental car, filled with weapons and explosive materials, breached the perimeter of a power facility in...
‘Massive’: The sprawling data center boom in the Northern Nevada desert
Tahoe Reno Industrial Center drives expansion of high-tech hubs.
‘Massive’: The sprawling data center boom in the Northern Nevada desert
Tahoe Reno Industrial Center drives expansion of high-tech hubs.
Nevada’s data center boom is a power, water conundrum
Nevadans could one day be stuck with higher energy bills, an overwhelmed power grid and an even drier desert because of data centers that...
Last updated 2026-03-14
View all 10 articles