IN BRIEF

Builder of plants for solar energy signs pact

An agreement announced Thursday could mean solar power is coming to the state's biggest planned development.

BrightSource Energy, a California-based developer of solar energy plants, said it's signed a private land contract on six square miles of property inside the 43,000-acre Coyote Springs master plan in northern Clark County and southern Lincoln County. BrightSource said it plans to use the site for a solar power plant that would provide up to 600 megawatts of electricity for markets in California and Nevada, including the Coyote Springs master plan.

The private acreage sits near transmission lines and already has environmental permits from the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other public agencies.

Construction is scheduled to begin by the end of 2010. The company disclosed neither a price nor an opening date for the plant.

Thank stimulus for bump in paycheck

If you've noticed a slight bump in your take-home pay this week, then you're seeing some of the results of the $787 billion stimulus bill Congress passed in February.

The bill included a $400-per-person payroll tax cut that averages out to about $13 a week through the end of the year and $8 a week in 2010, though specific breaks vary depending on individual taxpayers' withholding levels.

Companies began implementing the tax cut on March 1, though they have until April 15 to comply.

The tax cut doesn't apply to individuals earning $75,000 a year or couples bringing home $150,000 annually.

Wellinghoff named to lead energy commission

Jon Wellinghoff was named by President Barack Obama as chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, after serving as acting chief since January.

Wellinghoff, 59, joined the commission in 2006 with backing from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. Wellinghoff is a former consumer advocate for Nevada and helped write the state's law requiring that utilities get a portion of their electricity from renewable sources.

Tropicana in New Jersey gets deadline extension

Tropicana Entertainment LLC's affiliated casino in Atlantic City won an extension until April 30 of the deadline to sell the property.

Billionaire Carl Icahn and other creditors of bankrupt Tropicana plan to bid. The casino, which isn't part of the bankruptcy case, would file for court protection and then be sold in a court-supervised auction with the creditors' offer as the lead bid.

The previous sale deadline was Wednesday. The New Jersey Casino Control Commission on Wednesday extended the date and said it may consider the sale at an April 15 hearing if a purchase agreement is completed by then.

Icahn is among investors who own almost $1.5 billion in Tropicana mortgages.

GM Buick, Tata Jaguar top reliability ranking

General Motors Corp.'s Buick and Tata Motors Ltd.'s Jaguar tied for the highest rating in an annual study of vehicle dependability by research firm J.D. Power & Associates.

Owners of 2006 models of the two brands reported 122 problems per 100 vehicles, the Westlake Village, Calif.-based company said in a statement. Buick improved from sixth in 2008 and Jaguar, bought by Tata from Ford Motor Co. last year, rose from 10th. Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles led in nine of 19 categories.

Jobless benefits claims hit record 5.47 million

The number of Americans collecting jobless benefits swelled to a record 5.47 million, suggesting that former employees are unable to find new work as companies continue to cut costs.

The number of people staying on benefit rolls jumped by 185,000 in the week ended March 7, the Labor Department said in Washington.

First-time jobless applications last week topped 600,000 for a seventh straight time, the worst performance since 1982, while the figure was less than forecast.

NEW YORK

Treasury prices decline on economic news

Treasurys have given back some of their big gains, tempered by better-than-expected economic data and the prospect of more supply.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell 0.47 points to 101.28. Its yield edged up to 2.59 percent from 2.53 percent late Wednesday, but remains far below Tuesday's yield of 3.01 percent. Prices move opposite yields.

The 30-year bond fell 1.44 to 97.78, and its yield rose to 3.61 percent from 3.57 percent.