Well, the end of the world arrived in Nevada, and, as usual, it had government approval along with several pending permits. The Public Utilities Commission has conditionally approved two temporary natural gas power plants in Storey County.

The region is developing so rapidly that even the electricity needs to be in place before the buildings are completed. The two plants, known as South Valley and Peru Ridge, are expected to produce 144 and 218 megawatts, respectively.

That is enough electricity to power roughly 300,000 homes, which is unfortunate because there are not 300,000 homes there. Instead, there are data centers, which are buildings containing an astonishing number of computers and apparently requiring enough electricity to illuminate a small civilization.

The arrangement is temporary. This is reassuring, because nothing says permanent progress like building a temporary power plant to supply a permanent-looking collection of buildings while waiting two or three years for the permanent power supply to arrive. It’s rather like building a temporary railroad so the permanent railroad can be reached.

The projects will operate behind the meter, allowing the data centers to generate their own electricity while they wait for NV Energy to provide the regular stuff. This is an ingenious arrangement, since civilization has always advanced by finding new ways to wait for the power company.

Still, a few minor details remain undone. The projects must obtain environmental permits from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and approvals from Storey County. And if the necessary air permits are denied, the state utility commission’s construction approval will end.

Thus, the end of the world isn’t quite upon us after all. I lied. It is just awaiting environmental review, county approval, utility coordination, and the proper paperwork.

In Nevada, even Armageddon requires a permit.