A California company plans to invest $49.5 million to develop a photovoltaic farm about 15 miles north of Yerington.
GlobalWatt Inc. hopes to begin construction of the solar facility at Wabuska in April, with completion scheduled about 12 months later.
When it's complete, the solar plant would generate about 6 megawatts of electricity enough power for nearly 1,700 households. GlobalWatt officials say they hope to expand the plant to 75 megawatts within five years.
The facility would have an expected life of at least 35 years, executives told the Nevada Commission on Economic Development last week.
Its employment, however, would be modest only two full-time security officers once construction is complete. During the construction phase, the company said about 60 workers would be employed.
The $49.5 million the company plans to invest includes $18.8 million in construction spending.
GlobalWatt, which is headquartered at San Jose, said it expects to sell the facility's production to Sierra Pacific Power and Nevada Power.
The company said state development incentives are important in its decision to build the facility in Lyon County rather than Arizona.
The commission on economic development last week agreed to defer about $3.2 million in sales and property taxes on the photovoltaic plant.
