Another Southwestern state experiencing rapid growth is Nevada. In fact, if Southern Nevada were a state of its own, it would rank as the fastest growing state in the nation, while Northern Nevada would rank No. 3.
   It's not just the gaming industry that's creating jobs in Nevada. Manufacturing is making a comeback, too.
   Of the 10 largest facility announcements in the tri- state region of Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada this year, two are new manufacturing investments in Nevada: Ash Grove Cement's $300- million plant in Moapa and VSR Lock's $6- million, 100- job factory in Henderson, which over the past five years has been the fastest growing city in the U.S.
   Even the Internet companies are getting in on the act. Zappos.com this year announced that it will create 430 jobs in a new, 63,000- sq.- ft. (5,853- sq.- m.) facility in Henderson.
   The biggest news in Nevada this year, however, is the resurgence of energy projects throughout the state. The Nevada Public Utilities Commission in May approved a permit for Amp Resources to build a new 26- megawatt, geothermal project near Fallon; and Sierra Pacific Power Co. broke ground in May on a 514- megawatt, gas- fired plant just east of Reno.
   The $420- million SPP plant will be the largest new generating plant in northern Nevada in more than 20 years, and it will also be the company's most fuel efficient.
   SPP plans to spend about $2 billion on renewable energy projects between now and 2015. The company's goal is to produce more than 20 percent of all its energy output through renewable sources within the decade.
   Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. signed an agreement with SPP in August to provide 35 megawatts from a new geothermal plant in northeast Nevada.
   LS Power plans to construct a 1,600- megawatt, coal- fired plant in White Pine County and a transmission line to power- hungry Las Vegas, some 250 miles (402 km.) to the south. Nevada Wind LLC says it could supply up to 200 megawatts from its wind farm near the town of Ely.
   Record- breaking customer demand is driving new plant growth in the energy sector. Statewide, SPP is adding nearly 55,000 customers a year, which is roughly the equivalent of adding a city of 100,000 people.