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Dec 03, 2009Geothermal energy tests near Salton Sea OK’d - Ormat
Federal officials decided this week to let two Nevada companies explore 3,322 acres of public land near the Salton Sea for possible geothermal energy projects.
The “record of decision” allowing the exploration is an important step toward building a renewable-energy project on public land, said John Dalton, a Moreno Valley-based project manager for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which has jurisdiction over the property.
If the companies decide to build, the projects would then be evaluated in thorough environmental studies, Dalton said.
The companies potentially could generate 100 megawatts, said a BLM report. That would be enough energy for about 5,000 homes.
In the exploration phase, the companies would dig into the earth to take core samples and perform other geological analysis, said Wayne Gundersen, founder and manager of Reno-based Western Geothermal Partners LLC.
In 2005, the company applied to use 2,162 acres north of Bombay Beach in Imperial County for geothermal development.
The company has since focused on exploring six locations in Nevada, so it will need to find a partner to explore the Imperial County site, Gundersen said.
The BLM also gave the go-ahead to Ormat Nevada Inc., which applied to explore 1,160 acres east of the Salton Sea.
Because an earthquake fault in the area generates heat to create steam, the Salton Sea has huge geothermal potential, Gunderson said. Existing plants already produce enough power for more than 220,000 homes.
Utilities are seeking more power lines to carry electricity from desert solar, wind and geothermal projects to cities. Sunrise PowerLink plans a 120-mile transmission line from the Imperial Valley to San Diego. And the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power wants to link to the Salton Sea area’s geothermal fields.
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