ELKO — NV Energy announced Yukon-Nevada Gold Corp.’s Jerritt Canyon Mine north of Elko earned $173,000 from NV Energy for energy efficient projects.
NV Energy reported the mine’s installation of more energy efficient lighting and ore processing equipment, along with new construction to improve the ore drying process, sparked the rebate.
The mine, operated by Yukon-Nevada subsidiary Queenstake Resources, will also realize roughly $200,000 in annual savings on its power bill for their efforts, according to NV Energy.
“Queenstake recognizes it has a social responsibility to manage our energy usage in clean, sustainable ways,” said the mine’s general manager, Guy Simpson. “In support of this commitment, a portion of the rebate monies received from the project will be used for community-based green projects in the Elko area.”
Queenstake participated in NV Energy’s Sure Bet program for commercial customers, which offers cash incentives and technical assistance to help calculate energy savings and save money on power. Incentives are available for new construction, major renovations and existing facility improvements.
Queenstake's retrofit projects included replacing 200 inefficient lights throughout the mine's buildings with LED light fixtures that reduce energy usage and produce a brighter light output, according to NV Energy.
The mine also retrofitted a rotary dryer with an energy efficient 350-horsepower variable speed drive that allows mine operators to adjust dryer speeds to accommodate ore conditions.
As part of a new construction project, Queenstake built a new bag house, which includes large fans and works in tandem with the rotary dryer to remove moisture from the mined ore. Included in the installation are two 350-horsepower variable speed drives for the fans.
Together, Queenstake's retrofit and new construction projects will save more than 3 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, NV Energy reported.