Archive for August, 2010
Happy Birthday(s): Utility-scale GT turns 50, the Digest turns one
Fifty years ago in California, construction began on the country’s first utility-scale geothermal power plant at The Geysers. And this marks Geothermal Digest’s 52nd issue, which makes us one year old.
While we noted a 50th anniversary celebration back in May, a number of stories about the anniversary are beginning to appear elsewhere in the [...]
Tenders opened for first geothermal exploration wells
In Yemen, tender offers have been opened for the drilling of the first exploratory well for geothermal energy in Yemen. The project, in the Allisi area, Dhamar province, is designed to assess geothermal energy resources for possible power generation. Previous work included surveys of some 100 locations where geothermal energy sources might be found in [...]
Capiz coop likes the price of its new 10-year GT deal
In the Philippines, Capiz Electric Cooperative (CAPELCO) has signed a 10-year power supply deal with Green Core Geothermal Inc., a unit of Energy Development Corp. The geothermal energy provider will account for 70% of its the coop’s electricity needs. CAPELCO’s general manager states that the other 30% will come from more expensive sources. The committed [...]
Geothermal planning aims at sustaining Rotorua
In New Zealand, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Rotorua District Council are trying to decide how to allocate Rotorua’s geothermal resources following a recent workshop. The two councils are also working with neighboring regional council Environment Waikato to look at the best possible gains to be made using the area’s geothermal energy. Rotorua [...]
State accustomed to ground source heating and cooling
In Maryland, an item about some new energy-saving features in a local (Wicomico County) high school, including a new ground source heating and cooling system, turned up an interesting tid bit. Wicomico schools already have a high number of geothermal installations. North Salisbury Elementary, Westside Primary and Intermediate and Prince Street Elementary all have some [...]
State legislation considers helping geothermal development
In Idaho, an item touting the development of a new wind farm also included discussion of baseload power and thus, geothermal. State Rep. Steve Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, noted that lawmakers are discussing a bill that would reduce the rate geothermal developers pay to lease public lands in the state. He said, “The lease rates were [...]
Oregon to host Renewable Energy Markets 2010
The Doubletree Hotel in Portland, Oregon will play host to the 2010 version of Renewable Energy Markets, October 19–22. In its 15th year, this year’s conference topics will include: Messaging and Marketing that Works; Consumer Trends and Profiles; Growing Utility Green Power Programs; Renewable Energy Regulation, Cap and Trade, and RES Impacts; Voluntary and Compliance [...]
Opinion: Use of geothermal energy raises environmental concerns
A piece that has been making the rounds of renewable energy and environmental publications – in this case in helium.com by Lenna Gonya – suggests that geothermal developers should be wary of a number of possible issues. We point you to one here, if only that this industry be informed about what those outside are [...]
NGP settles with Ormat over plant shutdown
In Canada, Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. reported that NGP Blue Mountain I LLC, the owner of the 49.5 MW Faulkner 1 geothermal power plant and Ormat Nevada Inc. have settled all disputes that have arisen under the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contract as a result of the facility shutdown between January 16 and February [...]
Ormat project turning recovered energy into electricity
In Nevada, Ormat Technologies, Inc. says that a new recovered energy generation (REG) power plant is in commercial operation in Martin County, MN. The project is a 5.5 MW power plant that converts the waste heat from the exhaust of a gas turbine in a compressor station along a natural gas pipeline. The electricity produced [...]
