May 29--Neither of the two major electrical providers in the region is currently providing power for the Quechan Casino Resort -- the Q. That begs the question: What is keeping the lights on?

Apparently generators. That's according to an application by the tribe for a Title V permit to the Environmental Protection Agency, said Margot Perez-Sullivan, spokeswoman for EPA, Region 9. Sources are required to apply for a title V permit within one year of beginning operation.

She said EPA currently is reviewing the application.

"There's no alternative source of power," said Kevin Kelley, spokesman for the Imperial Irrigation District, which is the electrical provider for Imperial County. He confirmed this week that the casino is not receiving electricity from IID at this time, although the tribe is in negotiations with IID.

Meanwhile, Arizona Public Service Co. spokesman Damon Gross said the tribe had called that utility for help in finding a solution to its efforts to obtain power.

However, he said, APS would not be able to provide electrical power to the casino as it is outside the utility company's service area.

Tribal President Mike Jackson did not return The Sun's calls seeking comment.

Readers of The Sun's Web site have suggested that the casino is running off diesel-powered generators. Quechan tribal members contacted by The Sun also say they've heard that.

Kelley agreed, saying that IID estimates the casino is using about 7,500 kilowatt hours of energy through onsite generation to power the nearly 300,000-square-foot facility on an ongoing basis. Gross equated that amount of usage to about what five or six average homes would use in a month.

The Q, which opened to the public Feb. 13, includes a casino with 1,000 slot machines, a hotel with 166 rooms, the Ironwood Steakhouse, Ocotillo Cafe, Ocotillo Bar, Sidewinders Lounge, food court and 20,000-square-foot entertainment center.

Kelley said that during construction of the casino, there was talk of building a substation to provide power through IID's grid. But those talks broke off with no contract.

Negotiations recently were revived and IID has submitted a proposal to the Quechan Tribe to connect the casino to the utility's power grid, he said.

"We want very much to work with the tribe to meet its energy needs," Kelley said. "We've submitted what we consider a fair proposal. It includes some cost sharing."

He said it's also his understanding that the proposal calls for a "fairly expeditious schedule."

While the casino likely would use a little less energy than is now being generated because line power would be more efficiently delivered, the complex still would rank as a major energy user, Kelley said. He added that IID would be able to accommodate the casino's power needs.

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