The Pahrump Valley Times reports that the original developer of the Crescent Dunes solar project near Tonopah has filed a complaint against the U.S. Department of Energy, alleging that the DOE has attempted to gain greater control over Crescent Dunes and its operator, Tonopah Solar Energy LLC. 

In the complaint, attorneys for SolarReserve say the end result of recent actions by the Energy Department “will be to interfere with SolarReserve’s right to vote on” Tonopah Solar Energy’s board, taking major decisions on things, such as bankruptcy, out of SolarReserve’s hands. 

The complaint came just a day before a renewable power purchase agreement with NV Energy, the solar project’s sole customer, was set to be terminated with Tonopah Solar Energy. 

A spokeswoman for NV Energy said the company sent the notice of termination on October 4.