geo-energist

Washington State Legislature Considers Changes to Geothermal Law

2012-02-02T17:23:00.000-05:00

The Washington State legislature is considering potential changes to the state’s geothermal law (Chapter 78.60 Revised Code of Washington), following up on last year's effort. The bill seeks to bring Washington’s law in line with federal laws and other states’ laws, as part of an effort to promote geothermal development in the state.

Washington currently defines geothermal resources as "only that natural heat energy of the earth from which it is technologically practical to produce electricity commercially…” Since current technology makes it possible to produce power at much lower temperatures than was possible when the definition was adopted in the 1970s, this definition is impractical and inconsistent with other definitions of the resource. Professor Hiatt of Harvard Business School has found that inconsistent definitions of geothermal resources are significant barriers to geothermal development. To remedy this problem, the bill would replace the current definition with one that combines federal and California definitions, similar to Oregon’s approach.

Ownership of geothermal resources would also be addressed in the bill. Under current Washington law the surface landowner owns underlying geothermal resources. The bill would authorize reservation or conveyance of geothermal resources separate from the land surface. This change would reduce risk for developers, and would avoid conflicts where geothermal resources have previously been reserved or conveyed by the federal government. The state would also benefit by being able to reserve geothermal resources - and receive income streams from geothermal development - following conveyance of state lands.

The regulation of water, which is the medium for heat transfer, is also addressed in the bill. Washington's current law provides that Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the lead agency for geothermal projects, may not approve operation of a geothermal well that will negatively impact other uses of groundwater. This bill clarifies the circumstances in which the water code will apply to use of water for geothermal projects. It exempts certain uses of water from the appropriation procedure of the water code, based in part on Nevada law. The bill adds provisions requiring coordination between DNR and Department of Ecology, the agency changed with water management. These provisions are intended to avoid overlapping permits and duplication of effort by state agencies, while ensuring that agency concerns are discussed and addressed.

In a housekeeping measure, the bill would renew a provision that had sunseted in the current law, authorizing the state to receive and manage a share of royalties from federal leases.

The bill (SB 6285) can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/ENRM/Documents/PSsDRAFTs/S-4071.1.pdf

Author bio: Kathleen Callison is an attorney with areas of practice in water, reclaimed water, geothermal and mineral resources. She has written and spoken extensively on geothermal laws and regulations, and can be reached at Callison@CallisonLaw.com.

New year's resolutions for the geothermal industry: Build on the past, energize the future

2011-12-21T12:51:00.003-05:00

Geothermal industry leads the way towards a more sustainable 2012

Washington, DC (December 20, 2011) -In 2011, the geothermal industry continued to build upon the growth of the last decade. Over the past year, increased activity in the areas of resource, technology, workforce and policy development have positioned the industry for increased growth in 2012. As the industry looks towards the new year, the Geothermal Energy Association has identified the top trends and accomplishments of 2011 that the industry will build upon in the upcoming months.

“Geothermal energy is an extremely important element of a successful renewable and sustainable future in the United States,” said GEA Executive Director Karl Gawell. “The progress made by geothermal in 2011 was substantial, and we look forward to continued growth in the year ahead.”

GEA Geothermal Energy Expo Kicks Off this Sunday in San Diego

2011-10-21T11:51:00.002-04:00

A tour of Imperial Valley geothermal plants and a new report on geothermal energy in Southern California show why this area is one of the best known in the world to geothermal developers.

The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) is hosting a tour of geothermal power plant complexes today as a preview to the GEA Geothermal Energy Expo, which begins Sunday night at the Town and Country in San Diego with an opening reception. Today's tour showcases CalEnergy U.S. and Ormat Technologies facilities in Imperial Valley that supply Southern California with renewable, baseload energy.

In conjunction with the Expo, GEA has released a report on Southern California and its geothermal resources, titled "Energizing Southern California's Economy: The Economic Impacts and Potential for Geothermal Energy in Southern California."

Obama Administration Fast Track for Transmission Projects Does Little for Western Geothermal Interests

2011-10-19T12:29:00.003-04:00

Several expedited projects make reference to potential transport of geothermal energy, but no firm commitments

By John McCaull, GEA Western States Representative

As part of the campaign to gain support for the American Jobs Act, the Obama Administration has recently identified 7 major transmission projects for expedited permit streamlining. According to Nancy Sutley of the Council on Environmental Quality, this move will “speed the creation of thousands of construction and operations jobs while transforming the nation’s electric system into a modern, 21st century grid that is safer and more secure, and gives consumers more energy choices.”

The choice of these transmission projects is touted as a means to increase grid reliability and to integrate renewable energy resources. An analysis of these selected transmission lines by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) shows little to no benefit from these projects to expanded transmission access to geothermal resource areas in the western states. Although several of these projects make reference to potential access and transport of geothermal energy, GEA could find no specific commitments from any of these transmission projects to actually facilitating project development.

More on the expedited projects after the jump.

Energy Tax Credits Need Extension, GEA Tells House Committee

2011-10-13T15:28:00.000-04:00

The extension of the renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) to geothermal energy in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 has been a principal factor in the growth of geothermal energy, according to a statement submitted to the Select Revenue Measures and Oversight subcommittees by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA).

But, many geothermal projects will not be completed by the current tax credit expiration deadline, which will undermine future industry growth according to the GEA.

Since 2005, geothermal power has seen steady growth in the United States

Since 2005, the US geothermal market has grown from 2737 MW of installed baseload capacity in 2005 to 3102 MW in 2010. Going forward even more projects are under development. According to GEA, there are projects under development in some 15 states.

Read more »

Mother nature's own sustainability requirements considered

2011-09-07T22:04:00.001-04:00

Recently the East Coast determined it wanted to up the ante with the West Coast in terms of seismic activity. The resulting earthquake which originated in Martinsville, Va was confirmed to be the largest ever recorded in the state. The disaster combined with the hurricane that followed days later, combined further piling evidence of climate change, inspires many to jump to action, from ethical and regulatory discussions to personal preparedness for emergency situations.

Read more »

Sustainable planning underway for communities, companies

2011-09-06T14:37:00.001-04:00

Labor Day brings many a vacationer back to work at the grindstone, as the season marks changes in school-year rotations, sports traditions, and financial planning. Now more than ever, sustainability as an integral part of business planning is important to investors and consumers alike.

Read more »

New Carbon Tax Down Under May Help Hot Dry Rocks, Petratherm Geothermal Projects

2011-07-22T17:44:00.002-04:00

Spotlight on Geothermal Energy Happenings in Australia

On July 10, Prime Minister Julia Gillard released details of a new carbon tax much anticipated by energy industries of all kinds. It includes:

$3.2 billion for renewable energies
pricing carbon pollution at $23 AUD per metric ton
takes effect on July 1, 2012
three-year fixed-price period

Industry highlights

2011-07-18T12:02:00.001-04:00

Policy

On Tuesday July 12, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee heard testimony on the Geothermal Exploration and Technology Act of 2011, proposed by Senator Jon Tester, which directs DOE to establish a revolving loan fund for drilling during exploration activities for geothermal projects. Witnesses included Steve Chalk, Deputy Assistant Secretary at DOE, and Douglas Dougherty, president and chief executive officer of the Geothermal Exchange Organization.
The House Natural Resources Committee passed four bills out of committee last week including The Exploring Geothermal Energy on Federal Lands Act (H.R. 2171, introduced by Rep. Labrador), which streamlines the environmental review process by requiring only a single review for the geothermal exploration test holes within the same leased area. On June 23, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources heard testimony on these bills. Paul Thomsen, Director of Policy and Business Development and President of the Board of the Geothermal Energy Association was a witness.

Geothermal energizing

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) last week signed a one-year contract for 40 MW of geothermal power with Silicon Valley Power, pending approval by the California Public Utilities Commission

Read more in the Geothermal Energy Weekly: http://geo-energy.org/updates.aspx

GEA Brings Geothermal to DC Congressional Expo

2011-06-15T18:55:00.002-04:00

On June 16 GEA will be exhibiting on Capital Hill. The event is free and open to the public, so don't miss GEA's booth where you can explore our new Geothermal Web, see our current reports and surveys of the geothermal industry, and learn more about renewable energy and energy efficiency in our nation's capital. GEA's Executive Director Karl Gawell will also be joining a panel to discuss policy issues at 9:40am, and at 11:30am there will be remarks by members of Congress.

Read more »

Renewable Energy Associations Laud United Nations Climate Report

2011-05-10T10:19:00.001-04:00

UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report Shows Renewable Energy Could Provide Nearly 80 Percent of World’s Power

WASHINGTON DC, (May 9, 2011) - Leaders of the renewable energy industry hailed the release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that shows with the right policies to support growth, renewable power sources could dominate the world’s energy supply by 2050, and called even more strongly for the development of smart energy policies to ensure that renewables continue to grow.

This momentous change away from fossil fuels could help keep the increase in global temperature below 2 degrees Celsius – an aim recognized in the United Nations Climate Convention's Cancun Agreements.

Quotes from the Geothermal Energy Technology and International Development Forum

2011-05-06T12:50:00.001-04:00

"If we make some smart decisions now we can look down the road six, eight, ten years from now and say that was a good call, that made a difference. To be able to have this kind of clean geothermal energy at this time with the opportunities for this number of jobs, that's a combination that come around fairly rarely. ... You all are on the right side of history." - United States Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon (Keynote)

At the GEA Geothermal Energy Technology and International Development Forum in Washington, DC on May 4, over two-hundred industry leaders, foreign diplomats, financiers and government officials came to learn from geothermal industry professionals. Here's a peek into the discussion.

Read more »

Geothermal Briefs: US Development, Event Registration, and Highlight on Peru

2011-04-19T14:49:00.000-04:00

Recent highlights of the geothermal market have included a bill introduced to the House to extend geothermal tax credits; and US Geothermal, a Boise company, is building its DOE-loan-guarantee-backed project in Oregon. Learn more at geothermal industry events in DC and California, only weeks away! Meanwhile, a country in South America might be seeing its first geothermal energy projects online before too long.

Read more »

Brooklyn gallery to host GEA Climate Ride team

2011-04-12T17:42:00.000-04:00

Support the Geothermal Rock and Rollers: Join Us This Friday Night in Brooklyn, New York

You are invited to attend a Brita Climate Ride NYC-DC 2011 Fundraiser for:

The Geothermal Rock & Rollers

Friday, April 15, 8-10pm

Gitana Rosa Gallery

19 Hope Street

Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Art, drinks, raffle, food, fun, and environmentally minded folk.

Will blocking EPA emissions regulations block government funding?

2011-04-08T15:50:00.002-04:00

Debate Over Climate Change Takes Center Stage in Washington Gridlock

By Leslie Blodgett and Karl Gawell, GEA

EPA climate regulations have apparently taken center stage as the House and Senate seek to prevent a government shutdown from happening this evening. Lawmakers on the House and Senate Appropriations panels have set a goal of cutting billions in spending from government programs in this fiscal year, but apparently compromise on budget cuts has not cooled the playing field as issues like EPA's pending climate regulations create a government impasse.

*Read this story and more in the latest issue of the Geothermal Energy Weekly

Ethiopia, Arizona, and Kenya: Geothermal development opportunities

2011-04-08T13:23:00.000-04:00

Check out these new solicitations: a bidding for consumables for geothermal drilling in Ethiopia; small renewable energy projects for Arizona Public Service Co.; and a geothermal field development in Kenya. Good luck!

Read more »

New GEA report has a little something for everyone

2011-04-07T11:52:00.000-04:00

After last week's release of GEA's new U.S. Geothermal Power Production and Development Report, we've had great feedback as experts and amateurs in various capacities have digested the data. Here are some highlights we've noticed in the press.

Three-year effort pays off in California

2011-03-31T20:37:00.001-04:00

California Passes 33% Renewable Energy Standard Legislation

By John McCaull,

GEA’s Western States Representative

March 31, 2011. On March 29, the California State Assembly passed SBX1 2 (Simitian), ending a three-year effort to codify a “33% by 2020” goal for California to increase its supply and use of renewable energy resources. SBX1 2 is expected to be signed by Governor Jerry Brown shortly, and it increases California's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to require all retail sellers of electricity and all publicly owned utilities (POUs) to procure at least 33% of electricity delivered to their retail customers from renewable resources by 2020.

The measure passed the Assembly on a vote of 55-18, while passing in the State Senate on a vote of 26-11 in February. “This bill establishes California as the national leader in clean energy,” said Senator Joe Simitian (D, 11th District), “improving the environment and stimulating the economy, while protecting ratepayers from excessive costs.”

Wednesday Geothermal Briefs: New Industry Report

2011-03-30T18:26:00.001-04:00

Today, the GEA released its latest U.S. Geothermal Power Production and Development Report [PDF], chock full of the latest information on geothermal projects currently underway across the nation.

The GEA continues to provide valuable reports to the industry. Here are some of the others we've recently added to our library.

Read more »

Tuesday Geothermal Briefs: Around the World

2011-03-29T17:03:00.000-04:00

Ram Power has announced successful results in the redrilling of two wells at the San Jacinto-Tizate site in Nicaragua. [Full story]

What else is happening with geothermal around the globe? Take a look in Malaysia, Serbia, and Nicaragua.

Read more »

GEA News: GEA to Host Technology and International Development Forum in Nation's Capital

2011-03-24T13:08:00.001-04:00

GEA Geothermal Energy Technology and International Development Forum, developed in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Commerce

Press Release, March 23 —As the geothermal industry is poised for record setting expansion, leaders will gather in Washington DC on Wednesday, May 4 for the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) 2011 Geothermal Energy Technology and International Development Forum which will be held at The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

Read more »

Thursday Geothermal Briefs

2011-03-24T13:04:00.000-04:00

Notices such as Requests for Proposals and Employment Opportunities are listed in the Geothermal Energy Weekly each week (GEA's newsletter), as well as on GEA's web site.

This week's newest announcements include:

The US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources released a white paper on a Clean Energy Standard (CES) and are seeking feedback from interested parties.
A drilling rig and crew from Barbour Well, Inc. is available immediately.
A job posting from Chevron Asia Pacific Exploration and Production, now accepting online applications for the position of Reservoir Engineering Manager located in Jakarta, Indonesia.
More announcements below.

Request our weekly newsletter by email to: leslie@geo-energy.org

Wednesday Geothermal Briefs

2011-03-23T09:00:00.044-04:00

Results are in from yesterday's BLM Nevada geothermal lease sale, and Colorado finds a deal with BLM on facilitating leasing practices.

Tuesday Geothermal Briefs

2011-03-22T13:13:00.008-04:00

Today, GEA looks forward to our Geothermal Energy Technology event on May 4 in DC, with registration, exhibit space, and sponsorship opportunities now open. We also look at 5 geothermal projects just announced by BLM as renewable energy priority projects for 2011. And, we offer our support to the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology.

Read more »

Trekking the Geothermal Track in Tampa

2011-03-17T15:45:00.009-04:00

Geothermal Events, Discussion, and Awards at the 2011 Renewable Energy World Conference and Expo

By Leslie Blodgett, GEA ~ The Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America settled one corner of Tampa, Florida for the week of March 8–10 to host leading companies and experts, and individuals involved in every aspect of the renewable energy world. The Expo floor was abuzz all week with utilities, small unit manufacturers, and legislative experts and more. Eight tracks provided beginner’s information and technical experience in Biomass, Geothermal, Hydro, Policy/Finance, Solar, Utility Integration/Smartgrid, and Wind Power. In its eight year, the conference brings thousands of visitors each year.

Japan Crisis Sparks New Energy Discussions

2011-03-17T15:40:00.001-04:00

Japan’s Nuclear Fears Dominate Congressional Discussions

A March 16 joint hearing of the Subcommittee on Energy and Power and the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy was originally intended to review the Obama administration’s fiscal 2012 budget request for DOE and NRC, but attention turned to Japan.

In preparation for the hearing, Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) said, "We will use that opportunity to explore what is known in the early aftermath of the damage to Japanese nuclear facilities, as well as to reiterate our unwavering commitment to the safety of U.S. nuclear sites.”

The situation in Japan is still unfolding. An explosion rocked the Unit 1 reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi plant on the eastern coast. It left the primary containment vessel intact, but the boiling water reactor requires coolant or water to carry heat away from the reactor’s core because the fuel continues to emit heat even after the plant has been shut down. TEPCO, the plant operator, received approval from Japan’s nuclear safety agency to begin injecting sea water mixed with boron into the primary containment vessel. There has been an increase in levels of radioactivity around the plant.

TEPCO also reported the lowest state of emergency at its Onagawa nuclear plant in northern Japan. Three reactor units are “under control” but radioactivity readings are exceeding allowed levels in the area.

The devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan also prompted warnings against the GOP CR's proposed funding cuts for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association weather monitoring. "Congress must heed this cruel wakeup call and stop proposed cuts to essential NOAA prediction programs that would endanger lives," Senate Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) said in a Friday statement.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) provided a statement on the nuclear crisis in Japan:

“The emergency at Japan’s nuclear reactors in Fukushima is still unfolding. Information about these events is still coming in, and it will be some time before we have a complete understanding of the damage to the reactor cores and spent fuel storage at those plants and the resultant releases to the environment. We will need to understand what failures in design could have contributed to the problems in Japan, whether they could have been prevented, and whether similar design flaws exist in reactors here in this country.

“The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, at least in my view, has been fairly assiduous in insisting on adequate safety for our nuclear reactors. They have a pretty good track record in that regard in the last few decades. I think undoubtedly they’ll be taking a fresh look at the safety precautions and provisions that are in place, in light of whatever is learned from the Japanese. I hope that the Commission will quickly reach some conclusions about whether the safety precautions and provisions that it has insisted on are adequate for the future.

“While our Nuclear Regulatory Commission is primarily responsible to a different Senate committee, the Japanese emergency is of great interest to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee because of its broader effect on our energy policy discussions. I would not be surprised if we decide to have a hearing to review the implications of what happened there for our own nuclear power generation capacity. My own view is that we need to have a diverse set of sources for energy production and nuclear power is currently responsible for 20 percent of our electricity generation. I think nuclear power can be provided in a safe reliable way and it is possible that we will learn some things from what’s happened in Japan that will persuade us to put in place additional precautions.”

What’s Happening with Geothermal Energy in Japan?

By Karl Gawell, GEA ~ The crisis in Japan has spurred numerous questions about geothermal energy. Here are some key points of information about geothermal power today and its future potential in Japan.

Geothermal Power Production in Japan Today

Japan has 536 MW of installed geothermal electric generating capacity, about 5% of the world total. Sixteen geothermal power plants are in operation, most located in the Tohoku and Kyushu districts. Japan has a target of a 25% reduction of greenhouse gases emissions in 2020 compared to the 1990 level. The Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment (GREEN) of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), a public research facility, included an active Asia Geothermal Research Group from 2001 to 2003.

Geothermal Development Highlights: There have not been large developments of geothermal power plants in Japan in recent years, but Mitsubishi Materials Corp. and J-Power have plans to develop at Wasabizawa in Akita prefecture. Estimates put the expected capacity around 30 MW of power and the venture expects to open in 2016. (From: Geothermal Energy Association, International Market Update, May 2010)

The Potential of Geothermal Power as an Energy Source in Japan

According to the latest data from Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), the United States has the highest capacity for geothermal energy production, estimated at 30 million kilowatts (kW), or 30 gigawatts (GW). Indonesia is second, with 27.79 million kW (27.79 GW), followed by Japan, with 23.47 million kW (23.47 GW), while the Philippines and Mexico both have six million kW (6 GW) each in capacity. So, Japan ranks among the world's top three countries for geothermal energy potential.

In one study using a new technology called "enhanced geothermal systems" (EGS), researchers succeeded in extracting heat for the generation of electricity by drilling down to the depth of magma and hot dry rocks. When this technology comes into practical use, it will be possible to tap into a very large amount of geothermal energy. (From: Japan for Sustainability)

Japan Could be Geothermal Energy Leader: US Expert

"Japan could make geothermal energy the centre of its new energy economy just as the US or China will make wind the centre of theirs," Lester Brown, president of the US-based Earth Policy Institute… (May 26, 2010) (More on Earth Policy Institute’s Outlook for Geothermal)

GEA’s 2010 Geothermal Energy Expo: 10 Days Away

2010-10-15T15:49:00.005-04:00

GEA’s Geothermal Energy Expo: 10 Days Away

Exhibitors, presenters, sponsors, attendees and staff all eagerly anticipate the geothermal event of the year, GEA’s Geothermal Energy Expo and the GRC Annual Meetings, coming October 24–27 in Sacramento, CA. The 2010 Expo will feature over 160 Exhibitors from 31 US states and 10 countries: The number of Exhibitors at the Geothermal Energy Expo has more than doubled since 2008. Between the Geothermal Energy Expo and the GRC Annual Meeting over 2500 participants are expected. To stay in touch with all of the industry celebration and business that is the Geothermal Energy Expo follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GEAgeoenergy.

Opening Reception

The Geothermal Energy Association and Geothermal Resources Council invite you to the official kick-off on Sunday, October 24^th, 6–8:00pm in the Expo Hall at the Sacramento Convention Center.

Virtual Job Fair

As a new addition for the GEA Geothermal Energy Expo 2010, GEA will host a job fair. Look for the Job Fair table in the West Lobby near the Geothermal Energy Expo registration desk for a map of the Expo Hall to see what exhibitors have job opportunities available. Visit the hiring exhibitors to pick up company literature, meet the staff and make introductions. For more details on job listings, please visit our website at http://www.geothermalenergy2010.com/VirtualJobFair.asp.

VIP Tour of the Expo Hall

GEA staff will offer a tour of the Expo Hall at the Geothermal Energy Expo 2010 at noon on Monday, October 25^th and Tuesday, October 26^th. No reservation required. Just look for signage next to Expo Registration Counter in the West Lobby Convention Center. Tours will leave at approximately 12:05pm.

GEA Booth
Stop by the GEA booth, booth 106 to see what GEA has been up to in 2010 and our plans for 2011. We will also be featuring information on GEA membership, the Geothermal Energy Weekly, GEA publications, and events. Here you will also find out more information about GEA’s new and exciting initiatives for 2011.

Best in Show Awards

On the final day of the Expo, Wednesday, October 27^th at noon, GEA will celebrate by presenting our much-anticipated, highly sought-after Best in Show Awards to exhibitors chosen by a select panel of judges….and don’t forget to vote for the People’s Choice Award.

We can’t wait to see you. For more details on all Expo-related events see the Upcoming Events section of this newsletter and visit the Expo Web site at http://www.geothermalenergy2010.com. Please feel free to email Kathy@geo-energy.org with any questions.

Leading Author, Federal, State Agencies to Address GEA Workshop Participants on Climate Change

On Saturday, October 23, Eugene Linden, author of seven books and for many years a writer about global environmental issues for Time, will join federal and state agency representatives participating in GEA's Critical Issues Workshop in Sacramento. Mr. Linden has contributed to The New York Times, Foreign Affairs, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Fortune, and Slate and he has won numerous journalistic awards, including the American Geophysical Union¹s Walter Sullivan Award. He will be speaking to the question: "What the financial crisis tells us about how the world will deal with climate change."

Following his address, workshop participants will hear from key federal and state agency representatives. The California Air Resources Board, the California Energy Commission, US Department of Energy, US Department of Commerce, US Bureau of Land Management and others will discuss their programs as the workshop examines how addressing climate change could affect federal and state agencies and the geothermal industry. In addition to government participants, speakers from GEA, the Center for Energy Efficiency Renewable Technologies and Environmental Defense Fund will join leading attorneys from Stoel Rives and Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich in the discussion.

The GEA Workshop and Annual Members Meeting is scheduled from Noon to 6pm at the Hyatt Regency room C in Sacramento, California on Saturday, October 23. The Workshop will run to approximately 4pm, when GEA staff will begin the members meeting with an overview of GEA's 2010 activities and engage members in a discussion of industry priorities for 2011. The meeting is open free of charge to GEA Members companies, Expo exhibitors and GRC members. If you are interested in attending or to view the current agenda, please visit: http://www.gifttool.com/registrar/ShowEventDetails?ID=1872&EID=7810.

Sacramento Mayor to Join GEA’s Karl Gawell for Geothermal Energy Expo Media Preview (October 22)

Next Friday, October 22, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson will join GEA’s Karl Gawell in Sacramento as the Geothermal Energy Association provides a media preview of the 2010 Geothermal Energy Expo (press conference, not a public event). Karl will provide the press with an update on the current state of the geothermal industry from both a local and national perspective and will report on the results of GEA’s forthcoming report on jobs, “Green Jobs through Geothermal Energy.” GEA will also release a new Geothermal Education and Training Guide.

Geothermal Energy Expo 2010: Four Booth Spaces Remain

If you plan on exhibiting at our 2010 Expo and have not yet registered, please register soon. There are only 4 booth spaces remaining. For more information and to register, please visit our Web site at: http://www.geothermalenergy2010.com/

To view the floor plan for the 2010 Expo, please go to: http://www.geothermalenergy2010.com/floor_plan.asp

To register as an Exhibitor, please go to: http://www.geothermalenergy2010.com/registration.asp

To view the Exhibitors contract for 2010, please go to: http://www.geothermalenergy2010.com/contract.asp

Hope to see you there! Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions: Kathy@geo-energy.org

Lack of Climate Bill Discourages Investment in U.S., Says Investment Group

2010-10-15T15:48:00.005-04:00

Lack of Climate Bill Discourages Investment in U.S., Says Investment Group

The lack of a comprehensive climate bill in the U.S. discourages potential investors of low-carbon projects, according to Rob Lake, head of sustainability and governance for the Dutch pension fund APG. Lake said a cap-and-trade system in the European Union has spurred investment, but that when his group looked into U.S. projects to reduce deforestation and degradation emissions, "the prices and volumes just were not there due to the absence of federal cap and trade."

See http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2010/10/13/12

Think Tanks Release 'Post-Partisan' Proposal for Energy Innovation

2010-10-15T15:48:00.003-04:00

Think Tanks Release 'Post-Partisan' Proposal for Energy Innovation

A report released by the conservative American Enterprise Institute and liberal Brookings Institution and Breakthrough Institute says the United States should emphasize innovation to drive down the cost of clean energy technologies and curb greenhouse gas emissions. Policies focused on improving technologies to drive down clean energy costs will win support, they said. Their report focuses on four “post-partisan” approaches:

· Expand spending on energy science and education: Double the budget of the DOE Office of Science to address scientific obstacles and put $5 billion per year toward innovation institutes to tackle energy challenges and $500 million per year toward energy education.

· Overhaul the energy innovation system to focus on private sector and Defense Department needs: Form a national network of innovation institutes bringing public and private researchers together with investors and give DOD a greater role in administering DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.

· Overhaul federal subsidies to reward innovation that results in lower prices: Provide $5 billion per year toward the testing, demonstration and purchase of energy technologies that will be beneficial to DOD and also to the private marketplace

· Make energy investments cost-neutral: Phase out existing subsidies, increase oil and gas royalties, add a fee for imported oil, place a surcharge on electricity sales, impose a modest carbon price

"This framework is direct because the federal government would directly drive innovation and adoption through basic research, development, and procurement in the same way it did with computers, pharmaceutical drugs, radios, microchips, and many other technologies,” Michael Shellenberger of the Breakthrough Institute, coauthor of the report told press.

See http://www.eenews.net/cw/

Agencies Must Prepare for Climate Change Adaptation, Says White House Council

2010-10-15T15:48:00.001-04:00

Agencies Must Prepare for Climate Change Adaptation, Says White House Council

A report authored by a task force from over 20 federal agencies and several White House offices concludes federal agencies must consider unavoidable side effects of climate change in their decision-making. The report was in response to an executive order from President Obama and was led by the office of Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality along with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The report, released October 14, outlines recommendations for preparation including: making adaptation a standard part of Agency planning, ensuring scientific information about the impacts of climate change is easily accessible, aligning Federal efforts to respond to climate impacts that cut across jurisdictions and missions, developing a strategy to support international adaptation and developing countries, and support local, state, and tribal decision-makers in places and infrastructure most likely to be affected. The task force will establish a partnership committee composed of local, state, and Tribal representatives by Spring 2011.

"This should mean that federal agencies cannot assume that protecting the status quo means protecting the environment," noted Karl Gawell, GEA's Executive Director. "This is particularly pertinent to renewable energy decisions where taking the no action alternative can mean blocking clean energy production which is a significant part of the answer to reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

See http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2010/10/15/3/, http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/21243

Legislators and Scholars Respond to Implementation of EPA Emissions Cuts

2010-10-15T15:45:00.000-04:00

Legislators and Scholars Respond to Implementation of EPA Emissions Cuts

As the Environmental Protection Agency begins requiring cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from large industrial sources, the Obama administration promises a smooth transition, lawmakers continue to block climate rules, and many states will be required to change state laws that don’t allow regulation of GHG gases or don’t comply with plans to regulate only the biggest facilities.

A new paper by three Duke University experts says the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) of the Clean Air Act are a more practical way to reduce emissions under existing law. The NSPS have not been implemented by the EPA, which has thus far relied on New Source Review (NSR) provisions. The paper aims to balance EPA's legal obligations, based on their finding that carbon dioxide emissions are a threat to human health and welfare, with the political reality that no climate legislation has been able to build sufficient support from legislators.

In the absence of climate legislation, environmental groups feel the performance standards are "the best tool we have," said David Doniger, policy director at the climate center of the Natural Resources Defense Council, one of three major environmental groups that have threatened to take legal action if the EPA does not agree to set performance standards for power plants.

Senator Max Baucus (D-MO), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee supports a measure to ban the EPA from regulating GHG emissions, preferring legislation to be written by congressional committees representing varying views.

See http://www.eenews.net/cw/

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43416.html

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/123055-baucus-opposes-epa-climate-regs

National News - National RES Bill Introduced

2010-09-24T16:59:00.000-04:00

Bingaman and Brownback Introduce National RES Bill: 15% by 2021

On September 21, Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) joined by others introduced a national stand-alone bipartisan Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) bill, S.3813. Sellers of electricity would be required to obtain certain percentages of their energy from renewable resources or energy efficiency improvements, starting at 3% in 2012 and gradually increasing up to 15% by 2021. RES legislation is “an essential component of any forward-looking energy policy,” according to the Senate release.

Mr. Bingaman said the votes are there and that it’s time to move forward. “I think that the votes are present in the Senate to pass a renewable electricity standard. I think that they are present in the House,” he said in a statement. Along with Sen. Brownback, two other Republicans are cosponsoring the bill: Susan Collins of Maine and John Ensign of Nevada.

The current sponsors are working toward 60 cosponsors in hopes of bringing the bill up for consideration before Congress adjourns, although most likely in a lame duck session following the November elections. According to the senators, a national RES also will support efforts in energy security, the reliability of the electricity grid, homegrown renewable energy, and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The bill requires 3% from renewable resources and efficiency improvements by 2012-2013, 6% in 2014-2016, 9% in 2017-2018, 12% in 2019-2020, and 15% in 2021-2039.

See Senate Release

http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=0c859aee-4287-4320-90ad-cdc38c3f7409&Month=9&Year=2010&Party=0

NY Times Green Blog

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/a-bipartisan-bill-on-renewable-energy/

Non-Hydro Renewable Sources Already Providing More Electrical Output Than Called for by 2013 in New U.S. Senate Legislation

Press Release: September 22, 2010 — Washington DC – Proposed legislation introduced yesterday in the U.S. Senate would establish a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) that sets targets for the year 2013 and beyond that are actually lower than the amount of non-hydro renewable electricity already being produced in the United States today.

The Senate bill, sponsored by Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Mark Udall (D-CO), would require sellers of electricity to retail customers to obtain 3% of their electricity from renewable energy resources or from energy efficiency improvements by the years 2012-2013.

Yet, according to the most recent issue of the "Electric Power Monthly" issued by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), non-hydro renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, solar, wind) provided nearly 4.1% of domestic U.S. electrical generation during the first half of 2010. Hydropower provided an additional 6.8% of net U.S. electrical generation for the same time period. **

Moreover, electrical generation from non-hydro renewable sources continues to grow rapidly. According to EIA data, electricity from biomass, geothermal, solar, and wind during the first six months of 2010 increased by 13% over the amount generated during the first half of 2009. Wind-generated electricity increased by 21.4%; electricity from solar thermal and photovoltaics rose by 16.4%; wood & other forms of biomass rose by 4.5%; and geothermal output increased by 0.8%.

Thus, inasmuch as the Senate bill includes incremental hydropower, hydrokinetic, and new hydropower at existing dams as well as energy efficiency improvements among the resources - in addition to biomass, geothermal, solar, and wind - that can contribute to the RES targets, it’s obvious that the 2013 target has already been surpassed by 30% or more and the 2016 target of 6% is within easy reach.

“Creating an RES framework and starting foundation is a worthy goal and the Senate bill should be supported for that reason,” noted Ken Bossong, Executive Director of the SUN DAY Campaign. “However, inasmuch as the near-term targets have already been surpassed and the longer-term targets are easily achievable, any criticism or opposition by those who might suggest the renewable electricity targets would be costly, unrealistic, or otherwise burdensome should be dismissed as being disingenuous at best.”

See http://www.altenergymag.com/news_detail.php?pr_id=17423.

National News - Senate Energy Committe Hears Testimony on DOE Loan Guarantee Program

2010-09-24T16:57:00.001-04:00

Loan Guarantee Process Needs Improvements, Says Industry at Senate Energy Committee Hearing

On September 23, a Senate energy committee hearing was held on the Department of Energy Loan Guarantee Program. Energy industry representatives told lawmakers that the loan guarantee process is slow and unpredictable and that renewable energy innovations could potentially be threatened by barriers it presents. Despite improvements over the last 12 months “[DOE] is still short of people, still short of resources,” said John Clapp, chief financial officer of Solar Trust of America.

In Sen. Jeff Bingaman’s (D-NM) opening statement he commended Secretary Chu and the DOE for its commitment in “getting this program moving” but expressed concern over the U.S. level of commitment compared to its competitors, saying the American public does not want to fall behind other countries in developing clean energy technologies.

“While we are arguing about whether or not we can afford to restore the $3.5 billion that was withdrawn from the $6 billion program set up less than two years ago, [China’s domestic clean energy support] is measured in the hundreds of billions,” Mr. Bingaman said. He added that while there are many reasons companies would locate in the U.S., “I would argue that we must lift the barriers that currently make it impossible to develop and manufacture new clean energy technologies here.”

Bingaman said a loan guarantee program that is fully functional with all parties committed could provide a remedy to market failure. “I’m concerned that there are those, including some in the Administration, that view financing as merely another benefit, like tax credits, to be cut when other needs dictate, rather than a remedy to a fundamental market failure that is acting as a barrier to domestic technology development.”

“What I’d like to explore today is level of the Administration’s commitment to this effort, not just at the Department of Energy, which I am persuaded does have a commitment in this area, but at other key decision-making centers, like the Office of Management and Budget,” he said.

Tim Newell represented US Renewables Group as a witness at the hearing. “I am here today because we believe the Department of Energy’s loan guarantee program to be a crucial part of US renewable energy policy, as well as an important component of our country’s overall economic policies – particularly with respect to supporting US competitiveness in global energy markets,” he said in his statement.

Newell said the Loan Guarantee program and related programs, such as the Sec. 1603 Treasury Grant program (which provides cash grants to renewable energy projects in lieu of tax credits) are crucial to attracting long-term renewable energy investors. He added that of the $6 billion in appropriated funds for the Loan Guarantee program, $3.5 billion which was diverted to other programs still needs to be restored. “Congress should act immediately to restore funding for this critical program,” he said.

Aside from having full funding restored, Newell said the program could be additionally strengthened through extending the “Commence Construction” date by two years, clarifying and limiting the role of the OMB, extending the Program’s mission to support small business lending, and providing for a permanent renewable energy financing mechanism to support US leadership in renewable energy.

Read witness testimonies and watch the hearing at:

http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=1c1534be-9e3a-9632-c0ec-c8f8d212882b

State News - Update on California's AB 32

2010-09-24T16:54:00.001-04:00

California: Air Resources Board Advances Two Key Regulatory Cornerstones of AB 32 on Schedule including 33% RES

By John McCaull ~ GEA Western States Representative

September 23, 2010. With a November 2010 ballot initiative (Proposition 23) looming to repeal California’s landmark climate change law, the California Air Resources Board defied the critics of AB 32 today, and approved two major planks in the law’s regulatory strategy on unanimous Board votes.

After the passage of AB 32 (The Global Warming Solutions Act) in 2006, the California Legislature passed SB 375 (Steinberg) in 2008. This law capitalized on the political success of AB 32 by taking on what has traditionally been the third rail of California politics: land use. For decades, the state has refused to weigh in and attempt to direct where and how urban growth should occur. Most major land use and transportation decisions have been essentially local or regional in nature, with the state having very little role in combating sprawl, traffic congestion, air pollution and a skewed “jobs-housing” balance in many communities that forced Californians to live hours from their workplace. The state’s decision to take on climate change also forced a new realization. California had to create a new set of incentives for sustainable land use decisions if it was to have any hope of reducing the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, namely vehicle emissions.

SB 375, also known as the Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act of 2008, requires regional transportation plans to include a Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) that links transportation and land use planning together into a more comprehensive, integrated process. On Thursday, the Air Board adopted regional greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for passenger vehicles for 2020 and 2035 for each region covered by one of the State's 18 metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs).

Each of California’s MPOs will prepare a "sustainable communities strategy" that demonstrates how the region will meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets through integrated land use, housing and transportation planning. Once adopted by the MPO, the sustainable communities strategy will be incorporated into that region's federally enforceable regional transportation plan. On Thursday, the Air Board approved regional GHG reduction targets ranging from 2-15%, with each region of the state and MPO pledging to work with the Board to achieve the necessary reductions by 2035.

As the Board staff report stated:

“The benefits of integrated planning and sustainable development go far beyond simply reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change and its damaging effects. Communities that are well designed provide housing for all income groups, and are supported by a range of transportation options that will have many other advantages. Among these are: increased mobility and transportation choices; reduced congestion; greater housing choices; improved public health as a result of better air and water quality; natural resource conservation; economic benefits such as opportunities for neighborhood economic development and lower costs for community infrastructure; reduced dependence on foreign oil; and greater equity through the provision of improved access to jobs, housing, and everyday needs.”

After 5 hours of debate on the SB 375 regional targets, the Air Board then moved on to consideration of the adoption of a 33% by 2020 “Renewable Electricity Standard” (RES) for California. With the Legislature’s failure to pass SB 722 (Simitian) during the 2010 session, the Air Board was left with the task of ensuring that California’s mandate to meet renewable energy procurement targets for all of California’s major utilities stayed on track.

In December 2008, the Board adopted California’s Climate Change Scoping Plan. In the staff report accompanying the “Proposed Regulation for a California Renewable Electricity Standard” CARB staff indicates that:

“In developing the [scoping] plan, ARB staff worked closely with California Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission and the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) to identify various energy-related measures that could substantially reduce GHG emissions. One of the key measures included in the Plan was the need to increase the amount of renewable energy used to meet California electricity demand to 33 percent by 2020. Renewable energy reduces GHG emissions by displacing the amount of electricity derived from fossil fuels.”

After a year of hearings, public workshops and voluminous public comment, the Air Board selected a controversial path towards meeting the 33% by 2020 RES. The Board’s regulations are deceivingly simple: California utilities can meet their RES obligations (which gradually rise between 2010 and 2020) by selling or buying “renewable energy” credits (RECs) that are tracked through the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System (WREGIS) administered by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC).

As the Air Board staff report states:

“RECs are used to verify and track the creation and use of renewable electricity. RECs are widely used in the U.S for both voluntary green claims and compliance with state RPS programs. RECs used for compliance with the regulation must be registered in and tracked by WREGIS. WREGIS issues a uniquely-numbered certificate for each MWh of electricity generated by a facility in the system, tracks the ownership of certificates as they are traded, and retires the certificates once they are used to avoid double counting. RECs used for compliance with the RES must be retired in WREGIS and may not be used for compliance with any other federal, state, or local program.”

To complicate matters, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued its own decision on “Tradable Renewable Energy Credits” in August 2010. On August 25, the CPUC issued a proposed decision that would end the state’s moratorium on approval of tradable renewable energy credit (TREC) transactions and increase the cap on such transactions for large investor-owned utilities to 40%. The Air Board regulation adopted today allows for up to 100% compliance with the RES for California utilities. As part of the adoption of the RES, the Air Board committed to immediately opening a new rulemaking proceeding to reconcile their REC policies with those previously adopted by the CPUC.

Significant concerns were raised at today’s RES hearing by labor, environmental and renewable energy groups. At issue is how to ensure that a compliance process reliant on the REC tool does not result in a loss of momentum for building renewable energy projects in California, or a “paper chase” process that does not result in an actual shift away from more carbon-intensive sources of electricity production. The various attempts in the Legislature and in the RES process to create “deliverability” requirement that the sale of RECs must be “bundled” with the actual delivery of renewable energy into the California electricity grid seems to have lost favor with the Air Board and its sister agencies such as the CPUC and CAISO. It is also worth noting that the principal proponents and backers of the 100% REC based compliance system are California’s major public and private utilities. All the major utilities supported the RES regulations, and praised the Air Board for their creative and collaborative approach. Several also expressed concern against “back sliding” once the Air Board starts to work with the CPUC on reconciling their two systems.

In the coming weeks, the Air Board will open a new proceeding meant to reconcile today’s RES decision with the CPUC findings on tradable renewable energy credits. GEA will continue to monitor and report on the RES regulatory proceeding.

Bingaman Introduces Legislation to Improve Loan Guarantee Program

2010-08-17T16:26:00.001-04:00

Last week, Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced legislation (S. 3746) to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to improve the loan guarantee program of the Department of Energy under title XVII of the Act.

See http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/300009_Jeff_Bingaman

Speculation on Contents of Oil Spill Bill Continues

2010-08-17T16:25:00.000-04:00

After finding opposition and a shortage of votes for energy legislation that would deal with the oil spill and other disasters, Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he will once again bring altered legislation to the Senate floor next month. Reid is being lobbied by Democrats to add a renewable energy standard to the oil spill bill, and Sen. Tom Udall has said there could be as many as 62 senators ready to support it.

But Sen. Jeff Bingaman said last week he doubts Congress will pass anything before Election Day. "I think the Republicans are reluctant to support anything that might result in another signing ceremony between now and the election," he said.

White House energy and climate advisor Carol Browner said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that there is still a chance to get climate legislation signed during the lame-duck session with cap-and-trade measures included.

But Bingaman disagrees. “I think it’s going to be difficult for the Senate to pass any kind of cap-and trade legislation … I’ve thought that all along.”

The Senate will be in recess until September 13, and the House will be in recess until September 14.
See http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/41025.html

Kerry Bill Will Spur Clean Energy Production

2010-08-17T16:23:00.000-04:00

Press Release, August 6, Washington DC — Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) has introduced legislation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and excite clean energy production and technology across the country.

The Clean Energy Technology Leadership Act of 2010 will provide tax incentives for clean energy manufacturing, renewable energy, and conservation.

“While we continue the fight to bring comprehensive energy legislation to the floor of the United States Senate, it’s essential that we take action to start moving in the right direction,” said Sen. Kerry. “Providing incentives for clean energy production will drive our economy forward and take us one step closer to reducing our carbon emissions and ending our dependence on foreign oil.”

The Clean Energy Technology Leadership Act of 2010 will:
• provide additional funding for the advanced energy manufacturing credit and uncap the credit for solar energy property, fuel cell power plans, and advanced energy storage systems, including batteries for advanced vehicles;
• extend and modify tax incentives for new energy efficient homes, nonbusiness energy property improvements, and energy efficient commercial buildings;
• encourage clean transportation by providing incentives for natural gas heavy vehicles;
• extend the excise tax credit for biodiesel and renewable diesel retroactively for 2010 and through 2012;
• modify the cellulosic biofuel tax credit to include algae based fuels;
• extend the credit for domestic manufacturers of energy appliances;
• provide an additional $3.5 billion for clean renewable energy bonds; AND
• extend the research and development tax credit retroactively for 2010 and through 2012 and provide an additional 10 percent credit for qualified advanced energy research expenditures.

The Kerry legislation would also extend through 2012 the Section 1603 tax grant program of the stimulus bill, a priority for many renewable energy companies. It also " clarifies that real estate investment trusts and public power would be eligible for the program," a fact sheet from the Senator's office states.

See http://kerry.senate.gov/press/release/?id=91fe4bab-d8bf-4239-9da4-815dab5228ef

Viewpoint on the News - Iceland: Magma’s Investment in Economy Threatened

2010-08-10T11:59:00.000-04:00

On occasion, the Geothermal Energy Weekly presents views of knowledgeable individuals on events in the news that do not necessarily represent the views of the GEA or its member companies. If you have an opinion you would like us to consider, email us at research@geo-energy.org.

Iceland: Magma’s Investment in Economy Threatened

by Auður Nanna Baldvinsdóttir, audurnanna@gmail.com

Magma Energy’s largest investment to date is now at risk of being blocked by the Icelandic government. Just a few days prior to the finalization of the purchase of geothermal power producer HS Orka, the Icelandic Minister of Economic Affairs sent Magma Energy a letter informing the company of a planned investigation into the legality of the investment by Magma’s Sweden-based subsidiary. The letter also states that the government intends to reverse the privatization that has already occurred in the Icelandic energy sector. This could mean the nationalization of private assets within a developed economy; a global rarity over the last 50 years.

Magma has been increasing its stake in the firm for several months now and the government has known of Magma’s plans to own the company in full for the last nine months. The decision to intervene in the transaction was only made when pop singer Björk held a press conference declaring her disapproval and then organized a petition demanding that the government prevent the purchase. Public debate was ignited and the Left-Green Party members of the governing coalition threatened to disband the ruling government if the investment was not stopped. The centrists agreed and the investigation was organized.

The opponents of the sale argue that Iceland’s resources should not be under the control of private companies and that Magma’s ultimate intent is to own all of Iceland’s energy resources. Magma’s chief executive in Iceland, Ásgeir Margeirsson, formerly of Geysir Green Energy, firmly denies such plans. He points out that Magma merely leases the geothermal resource from the municipalities for a 65-year time period.

The 260 million dollar deal also happens to represent the largest single foreign investment in the Icelandic economy since the economic collapse in the fall of 2008. Magma’s chief executive Ross Beaty told the Financial Times that he thought the investment would be welcome at a time of economic strife. HS Orka needs financing to complete expansions for the planned sale of electricity to a nearby Century Aluminum smelter. A Mitsubishi steam turbine sits unused in their turbine hall waiting for the required six additional production wells to be drilled. Magma is also preferred by HS Orka’s creditors to the previous owner, Geysir Green Energy, which was largely owned by bankrupt bank Glitnir.

The legal argument for the prevention of this particular transaction is that EU legislation stipulates that energy firms in Europe must be owned by European companies. Magma, a Canadian company, set up the Magma Energy Sweden subsidiary in Sweden to hold the HS Orka shares. Magma representatives state they followed the advice of the Ministry of Industry on how the holding should be structured.

Margeirsson told Fréttabladid, a local newspaper, that the company had not yet answered the letter but had expressed its intent to cooperate with the investigation. He said he found it difficult to imagine how the authorities planned on preventing the transaction and that Magma‘s directors are already considering their legal options, should the government somehow prevent Magma‘s investment in HS Orka.

Regardless of the merits of a publicly-held electricity system, forcing foreign investors out of an economy after having made considerable investments in good faith is the equivalent of a large “keep out” sign to international investors. The Icelandic government knew of Magma’s plans for nine months and did nothing. The largest single foreign investment in Iceland’s economy after its collapse has been thrown into uncertainty. As an Icelandic citizen, economist and energy professional, I hear echoes of the same attitudes that largely caused our economy to collapse in the first place; an unprofessional bureaucracy, unclear execution of policy, and an inability to make decisions.

http://www.geo-energy.org/updates.aspx

GEA newsletter - National News 8/5

2010-08-10T11:56:00.000-04:00

Sen. Tester Introduces S.3619 to Improve Geothermal Technology

On July 20 Senator Tester (D-MT) introduced S.3619 – “A bill to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to improve geothermal energy technology and demonstrate the use of geothermal energy in large scale thermal applications, and for other purposes.” The legislation would direct grants from the DOE to help state and local governments, universities, nonprofits and manufacturers in their development of geothermal energy technology through research and development of new equipment and methods.
“It’s time we spark innovation to develop these kinds of technologies that will create jobs in Montana and help secure American’s energy future,” Tester said in a statement. “Almost no other state can match Montana’s potential when it comes to renewable energy development. I’m going to keep fighting to make sure we reach that potential and rebuild Montana’s economy with energy jobs.”
The bill states that the Geothermal Technologies Program of DOE focuses on direct use of geothermal energy in the low-temperature geothermal energy subprogram and that the Building Technologies Program focuses on energy demand and energy efficiency, including geothermal heat pumps. It states that geothermal heat pumps and direct use of geothermal energy, especially in large-scale applications, can make a significant contribution to the use of renewable energy but are underrepresented.
The bill seeks to improve the components, processes, and systems used for geothermal heat pumps and the direct use of geothermal energy and to increase the energy efficiency, lower the cost, increase the use, and improve and demonstrate the applicability of geothermal heat pumps and the direct use of geothermal energy.
See http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s3619/show and http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=580415.

Senate Redirects $1.5b of Loan Guarantee Funding To Education and Health Care

As an emergency measure, a $26 billion state aid bill passed by the Senate in a 61 to 39 vote. The bill also impacts $1.5 billion of funds set aside for renewable energy loan guarantees which were redirected to help state education and health programs facing imminent job cuts. The renewable funds, as well as others redirected from programs such as the Park Service and the Department of Defense, were used to offset the costs of the emergency bill. Reducing its deficit impact was critical to obtaining the vote needed in the Senate for passage.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said that the Department of Energy was slow in getting the funds out to the loan guarantee programs where they will eventually meet their mark. "They have been, in my opinion, very, very slow in putting that money out," Reid said. "DOE has huge amounts of money they have not spent. ... There is no way with the way things have been working they are going to miss that billion and a half," he said.
Reid told press he cleared the offset with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and had spoken with DOE before the vote. He added that the loan guarantee program funding would be replaced: "That money is just temporarily gone... We are going to take care of that," he said.
"This loan guarantee program is critical for many new geothermal and other renewable projects," said Karl Gawell, GEA's Executive Director. "We agree with Senator Reid that DOE has been moving forward with loan guarantees at a snail's pace, but hope the funds for the program are quickly restored. Helping teachers and health care shouldn't have to undercut producing clean energy and creating new jobs. We need all of the above for the economy and country to move forward."
See http://www.eenews.net/pm/.

Energy/Oil Spill Bill Sees Further Delay

Senate Democrats have again postponed a vote on an energy bill, which has become mostly an oil spill bill. The plans now are to return to the issue in September after the August congressional recess.
When they return, Democrats are likely to make some changes to the bill, though how many is unclear, as they attempt to formulate legislation that will win the necessary 60 votes needed for passage. Meanwhile many different energy interest groups continue working to affect its direction. Some of the key struggles over the recess
include efforts by energy majors pushing for the Senate to reconsider removing caps on liability for companies that cause oil spills, environmental groups urging support for a cap on carbon-dioxide emissions, and renewable groups working for a renewable electricity standard and tax credit extensions.
In the view of some Washington observers, the odds of any significant energy bill passing this year seem long, but the Senate Leadership has been leaving open the door to finding a way to 60 votes.
See http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/08/05/05greenwire-fallout-begins-after-senates-failure-to-act-on-54000.html and http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703748904575411170816612944.html.

GEA Las Vegas Utilities Workshop Attracts Geothermal Newcomers

Over 130 hundred representatives from various organizations braved the oppressive Nevada heat to attend the Geothermal Energy Associations (GEA) Geothermal Energy and Utilities, Co-ops and Public Power Workshop on July 22, 2010. The day-long workshop saw attendees and presenters coming from a variety of backgrounds within the geothermal energy industry in order to expound on and learn about the opportunities and obstacles facing the geothermal industry.
The workshop featured 10 different panels addressing a multitude of timely topics from investor and municipally owned utilities to other pertinent subjects such as transmission issues and analytical approaches to geothermal risk assessment. Karl Gawell, GEA Executive Director highlighted the dramatic growth of the industry; panelists on the Federal and State Support for Utilities and Renewables panel highlighted incentives for the development of geothermal energy. Dan Schochet of Ram Power spoke to the transmission developments that are needed to meet the growing need for clean geothermal energy in both Nevada and the greater West. Perhaps just as striking as the multitude of panel topics was the variety of organizations represented at the workshop. Newly developing sectors of the geothermal industry such as hydrocarbon and geothermal co-production companies were represented. State and government officials were represented and provided presentations on how their organizations support geothermal energy. Representatives from developers, law firms, and equipment suppliers also participated in the workshop.
The utility panels highlighted the growing importance of geothermal energy in the region. Dan Chase, Contract Negotiator, Renewable & Alternative Power, Southern California Edison noted that 17% of customers’ needs are met with renewable energy, of which 57% is provided by geothermal energy.
While the variety of organizations present at the workshop was significant its most impressive achievement was the number of newcomers in attendance. “It was gratifying to look at the attendance list for this workshop and see companies and organizations that we haven’t seen at our events before. That speaks not only to the importance of the workshops focused topic but also the increased recognition of geothermal energy as a viable source of clean renewable energy in Nevada and the region,” said GEA Research Associate Dan Jennejohn.

Geothermal Revenues Restored to Counties, Congressional Actions and GEA Utilies Workshop

2010-07-30T11:25:00.000-04:00

House Passes Supplemental Appropriations Bill, Restores County Share of Geothermal Revenues for 2010

On July 27, the House passed H.R.4899, the Supplemental Appropriations Bill to support U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, which included various domestic provisions. Among these was a provision to reverse last year’s appropriations bill rider that took away the county 25% share of geothermal revenues. The bill previously passed the Senate on July 22 and the President is now expected to sign it.

The provision on geothermal revenues states, “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for fiscal year 2010 only, all funds received from sales, bonuses, royalties, and rentals under the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. §§ 1001 et seq.) shall be deposited in the Treasury, of which—(1) 50 percent shall be used by the Secretary of the Treasury to make payments to States within the boundaries of which the leased land and geothermal resources are located;(2) 25 percent shall be used by the Secretary of the Treasury to make payments to the counties within the boundaries of which the leased land or geothermal resources are located; and (3) 25 percent shall be deposited in miscellaneous receipts.”

But, this legislation only restores the country share for FY 2010. Legislation to permanently restore the 25% county share has been introduced in the House and Senate. S. 2607 was introduced in the Senate by Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and is cosponsored by Senators Boxer, Crapo, Ensign, Feinstein, Hatch and Risch. H.R> 4060 was introduced in the House by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), and is cosponsored by Representatives Bishop, Chaffetz, Filner, Heller, Lummis, McKeon, Minnick, Rehberg, and Simpson.

In addition to restoring the county share, the Appropriations Bill provides $34.7 billion to support US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and provides non-military assistance to State Department Operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It allocates $24 billion for employment of teachers, police, and firefighters during the recession, $13 billion to Vietnam War veterans that have been exposed to Agent Orange, $2.8 billion for Haiti relief, $5.7 billion for PELL grants, $677 million to strengthen the border, $275 million for the Gulf oil spill, and $725 million for other needs.
See http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h4899/show.

House Ways and Means Committee Releases Discussion Draft of Energy/Jobs Tax Bill

The House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Sander Levin (D-MI) has released a discussion draft of the energy/jobs tax bill, "The Domestic Manufacturing and Energy Jobs Act of 2010." The bill may be marked up in September and includes:
1.
Extension and enhancement of Section 48C advanced manufacturing tax credit.
2.
Extension of direct payment in lieu of production tax credit and investment tax credit program.
3.
Investment tax credit for long-term projects involving geothermal and offshore wind energy facilities.

“As the world moves toward renewable energy and a greener economy, it is necessary to accelerate a new era of American manufacturing and innovation,” Levin said in a statement. “With the U.S. government as a full, active and effective partner, the private sector can expand our green manufacturing capacity, ensuring that these jobs and products will be created in the U.S., competing globally and protecting our environment. The governments of other countries are racing ahead to dominate in this area.

“This is why the draft I am releasing today provides vital tax incentives to modernize U.S. manufacturing facilities and encourage demand of renewable energy and energy efficient products. We must not let this opportunity pass us by. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate, as well the Administration, to enact legislation."

The draft appears to incorporate two key pieces of geothermal related legislation H.R. 4599 and H.R. 5612 both sponsored by Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR). HR 4599, the Renewable Energy Expansion Act, would allow taxpayers an election to receive a direct payment for investing in or producing specified energy property in lieu of existing energy tax credits through January 1, 2013. The legislation has 30 co-sponsors. H.R. 5612, the Geothermal Energy Investment Act of 2010, would extend through 2016 the 30% energy tax credit for investment in geothermal energy property. It has ten cosponsors. To see the full list of cosponsors of either bill, go to: http://thomas.loc.gov/
See http://waysandmeans.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=11294.

Senate Abandons Climate Effort, Focuses on Oil Spill Measure

Last week Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced Democrats in the Senate did not have the 60 votes needed to continue pursuit of comprehensive climate legislation before the August recess. He said the focus would turn to a more limited energy bill targeting the oil spill.
"We've always known from Day One that to pass comprehensive energy reform you've got to have 60 votes," he said. "As we stand here today we don't have one Republican vote." Efforts to cap carbon emissions in the electric power sector could resume in the fall.

Impending EPA regulations on carbon scheduled to take effect in January could require expensive equipment to be installed at thousands of power plants across the country and could be much stricter than legislation designed by Congress; however, this failed to convince senators to support legislation.

The Senate will take up a new bill focusing on BP’s responsibility in the Gulf spill, with pressure to pass something before the August recess. The new bill will also address energy efficiency, incentives for natural gas vehicles, and will support land and water conservation.

But, that means top renewable community priorities -- extending renewable tax credits, or to establishing a national Renewable Energy Standard -- will have to wait for future legislation. The House Ways and Means Committee is already preparing to move on tax issues, possibly in September (see story below.)
See http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2010/07/23/1/, http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/07/23/23climatewire-senate-abandons-climate-effort-dealing-blow-88864.html, and http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/110743-reid-renewable-electricity-mandate-lacks-60-votes.

Utilities, Coops, and PUDs Speak to New Geothermal Players at GEA Conference

On July 22, over 130 participants joined the Geothermal Energy Association to explore the future of utility-scale geothermal power at an industry conference held in Las Vegas.

With geothermal production expanding to 15 states, many new utilities, coops and public utility districts are considering geothermal for the first time. This conference brought together those utility-scale players who are familiar with geothermal to discuss how they have achieved success with geothermal developers and companies.

Speakers presented to an audience filled to capacity. Sessions focused on approaches and challenges for utility-scale projects in the U.S., federal and state support for utilities and renewables, risk management, transmission issues, and more.

"It was great to see many new companies and new faces at the workshop," noted Karl Gawell, GEA's Executive Director. "I was once again impressed by the dynamic change and growth occurring in the geothermal industry, and the new approaches and roles for both public and private utilities in the geothermal community."

Mayor Declares Geothermal Energy Day in Las Vegas

Mayor Oscar B. Goodman of Las Vegas issued a Proclamation declaring July 22, 2010 to be Geothermal Energy Day in conjunction with the Geothermal Energy Association’s “Geothermal Energy and Utilities, Co-ops and Public Power Workshop.” The Proclamation reads:

Whereas; the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) will be holding a one-day “Geothermal Energy and Utilities, Co-ops and Public Power Workshop” in Las Vegas that will explore the future of utility-scale geothermal power; and
Whereas; according to GEA’s recent Update on Geothermal Power Production and Development, Nevada is already a leader in geothermal power production; and
Whereas; with the abundant geothermal resource that Nevada boasts, the state has the opportunity to build an even more extensive geothermal power portfolio; and
Whereas; the growth of the geothermal industry in Nevada has been a sparkling examples of how developers can harness this resource at a large scale and make it and extremely attractive option for utilities. Geothermal is also the perfect option for utilities interested in green power; and
Whereas; GEA is a trade association composed of U.S. companies who support the expanded use of geothermal energy and are developing geothermal resources worldwide for electrical power generation and direct-heart uses; now
Therefore; I, the Mayor of the City of Las Vegas, County of Clark, State of Nevada, hereby proudly proclaim July 22, 2010 to be: Geothermal Energy Day in the City of Las Vegas and ask all citizens to welcome the attendees of this important workshop.

Congress Begins Action on FY 2011 DOE Geothermal Funding

On July 22, the Senate Appropriations Committee acted on its FY 2011 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, which sets funding level and direction for DOE renewable energy programs. The Committee approved a report, Senate Report 111-228, which provides the details. For the DOE Geothermal Technologies Program the Committee stipulates:

“The recommendation for geothermal technology is $55,000,000, the same as the administration’s request. The Committee directs the Department to make not less than $5,000,000 available to continue development and deployment of low-temperature geothermal systems. Together, the funding provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act [ARRA] and the fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2011 appropriations bills reflect the Committee’s intent to fund the full range of activities authorized by Congress in 2007 in subtitle B of Public Law 110–140. The Committee expects that in future years the Department will request funding for a broad based program, and not just Enhanced Geothermal System activities. The Committee also requests that the Department provide the Committee with a copy of its report required by section 621 of Public Law 110–140 evaluating the Department’s progress implementing the geothermal provisions of Public Law 110–140 and evaluating additional advanced concepts and technologies to maximize the geothermal resource potential of the United States.”

On July 15, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water voted on its bill and report, but the details of the Subcommittee's action have not been made public. Normally appropriations bill details are not released until the full Committee votes on the legislation, which has yet to be scheduled.

Once the House and Senate act on their versions of the bill, any differences in funding or direction will need to be reconciled in future legislation. Some broad documents and a list of earmarks from the Subcommittee are available at: http://appropriations.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=694:fy11-ew-appropriations-&catid=29:energy-and-water&Itemid=134&Itemid=4.

Congress Returns; Is Energy or Climate Bill on the Agenda?

2010-07-14T11:47:00.000-04:00

As Congress returns to Washington to continue its legislative session, the question many are asking is whether an energy or climate change bill will be on the agenda for the Senate. The House has already passed major climate change legislation, but the Senate has not. As with most other measures before the Senate, a super-majority of 60 votes will be needed for anything to be able to pass and the question is "where are the votes?"

President Obama has been calling on the Congress to pass legislation that will "put a price on carbon." And as a result, key Senators including John Kerry (D-MA) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) have been working late hours trying to put together a legislative climate deal that can garner the necessary bi-partisan support.

In particular, a proposal to impose climate restrictions only on the electric utility sector is being viewed as a possible path to a compromise. Senator Jeff Bingaman, Chair of the Senate Energy Committee, is reported to be working on such a bill and talking with potential Republicans about whether they can support such a measure. Most observers believe it could be another week or two before we know with any certainty whether a bi-partisan agreement on energy/climate is possible.

The President has also been pushing for an expansion of the manufacturing credit for green/renewable technologies. "Now, my attitude, and Harry’s attitude, is that if an American company wants to create jobs and grow, we should be there to help them do it,” he recently said in remarks at the University of Reno, Las Vegas. “So that’s why I’m urging Congress to invest $5 billion more in these kinds of clean energy manufacturing tax credits, more than doubling the amount that we made available last year. And this investment would generate nearly 40,000 jobs and $12 billion or more in private sector investment, which could trigger an additional 90,000 jobs," President Obama stated.

Most consider it likely that any energy/climate measure acted on in the Senate would involve measures involving the jurisdiction of several committees, particularly the tax law writing Senate Finance Committee. In addition to the manufacturing credit, most renewable groups have been strongly urging Congress to extend the tax credit cash-grant provisions of the 2009 stimulus bill, which allowed for a cash payment in lieu of a tax credit for renewable power facilities placed in construction quickly. That provision expires at the end of this year.

Today, news that three key Republicans have agreed to support the final version of the financial reform bill has encouraged some that there may still be bi-partisan openings possible despite the fact that elections are nearing. Votes to close debate and pass the measure from Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine and Scott Brown of Massachusetts will help Senate Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) break that roadblock for the wall street regulatory measure.

Meanwhile, the clock continues to work against the Senate leadership as well. As each day passes the congressional agenda gets more complicated by the need to complete action on all of the annual appropriations bills and any other pending measures hoping to make it to the President's desk before adjournment.

National News - Geothermal Energy Weekly June 25

2010-06-28T12:19:00.000-04:00

Senate Democratic Caucus Pushes for Clean Energy Legislation This Year

Members of the Senate Democratic caucus met on June 24 to discuss possible provisions for comprehensive clean energy legislation Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) plans to bring up next month. Lawmakers such as Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) presented plans they have been touting, and Democratic chiefs of staff are to be briefed Friday on the various climate proposals.

At this point it seems any of the components could be included in a final piece. “There were a number of discussions today as to how we can arrive at what’s best for the country, and of course pricing carbon is part of our discussion,” Reid told reporters.

Reid said that whatever form clean energy legislation will take, the Democratic Caucus agrees:

• it must deal with the catastrophe in the Gulf;
• it must create millions of jobs;
• it must cut pollution; and
• it must strengthen our economic security, our national security and our energy independence

Despite the uncertainty as to what the legislation will include, the caucus was in general agreement to pass something this year. “We’re going to write a bill that sets reasonable goals over a reasonable timeframe that will benefit both our environment and our economy. We’re going to write a bill that can pass the Senate,” Reid said. “My caucus is ready to get to work, but we need the cooperation of brave Republicans and it is our hope they join us in putting good policy over bad politics.”
See http://democrats.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=325919& and http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/105539-democratic-senate-offices-delve-into-climate-details-following-caucus-meeting.

GEA Workshop to Address Utilities, Co-ops and Public Power

On July 22, the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) will explore the future of utility-scale geothermal power at an industry conference held in Las Vegas. With geothermal production expanding to 15 states, many new utilities, coops and public utility districts are considering geothermal for the first time. This session brings together utilities, coops, and PUDs familiar with geothermal to discuss how they have achieved success with geothermal developers and companies. Sessions will focus on approaches and challenges for utility-scale projects in the U.S., federal and state support for utilities and renewables, risk management, transmission issues, and more.

According to GEA’s recent Update on Geothermal Power Production and Development, Nevada is already a leader in geothermal power production with 86 geothermal projects in development that together represent a potential of up to 3686.4 MW.

“The growth of the geothermal industry in Nevada has been a sparkling example of how developers can harness this resource at a large scale and make it an extremely attractive option for utilities,” said GEA Executive Director Karl Gawell. “As the only baseload source of renewable power, geothermal is the perfect option for utilities interested in green power.”

With the abundant geothermal resource that Nevada boasts, the state has the opportunity to build an even more extensive geothermal power portfolio. Strong state and national renewable electricity standards continue to push forward these developments and Nevada could, with forward-thinking leadership, be the first in the nation powered 100% by renewable energy.

“Eleven of the projects under development in Nevada were ARRA funded. With incentives like those, as well as extending the geothermal tax-grants and efforts to ensure transmission networks and policies support new geothermal development, we can keep pushing this state and this nation to build the green economy we need,” said Gawell.

National News - Geothermal Energy Weekly June 11

2010-06-11T19:46:00.000-04:00

Senate Votes Down Murkowski’s EPA Disapproval Resolution

On June 10, the Senate voted against Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s disapproval resolution which would have prevented the Environmental Protection Agency’s stewardship over regulation of climate issues. The resolution lost 47-53, with all Republicans and six Democrats voting in favor of it. The effort would have overturned U.S. EPA's scientific findings that carbon emissions endanger human health. In his remarks to the Senate on June 7, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said, “the result of this resolution would be to waste at least 450 million more barrels of oil than we need to.”

“I had hopes, for the security of our economy, that we would prevail today,” Murkowski said in a statement. “But regardless of the outcome, I believe it’s important that every member of the Senate is on the record on whether they think the EPA regulation is the appropriate way to address climate issues.” Murkowski said EPA regulation of greenhouse gases would cause an “economic train wreck.”

Here is how the Senators voted on the “motion to proceed” to Senator Murkowski’s resolution:
Akaka (D-HI), Nay Alexander (R-TN), Yea Barrasso (R-WY), Yea Baucus (D-MT), Nay Bayh (D-IN), Yea Begich (D-AK), Nay Bennet (D-CO), Nay Bennett (R-UT), Yea Bingaman (D-NM), Nay Bond (R-MO), Yea Boxer (D-CA), Nay Brown (D-OH), Nay Brown (R-MA), Yea Brownback (R-KS), Yea Bunning (R-KY), Yea Burr (R-NC), Yea Burris (D-IL), Nay Byrd (D-WV), Nay Cantwell (D-WA), Nay Cardin (D-MD), Nay Carper (D-DE), Nay Casey (D-PA), Nay Chambliss (R-GA), Yea Coburn (R-OK), Yea Cochran (R-MS), Yea Collins (R-ME), Yea Conrad (D-ND), Nay Corker (R-TN), Yea Cornyn (R-TX), Yea Crapo (R-ID), Yea DeMint (R-SC), Yea Dodd (D-CT), Nay Dorgan (D-ND), Nay Durbin (D-IL), Nay

Ensign (R-NV), Yea Enzi (R-WY), Yea Feingold (D-WI), Nay Feinstein (D-CA), Nay Franken (D-MN), Nay Gillibrand (D-NY), Nay Graham (R-SC), Yea Grassley (R-IA), Yea Gregg (R-NH), Yea Hagan (D-NC), Nay Harkin (D-IA), Nay Hatch (R-UT), Yea Hutchison (R-TX), Yea Inhofe (R-OK), Yea Inouye (D-HI), Nay Isakson (R-GA), Yea Johanns (R-NE), Yea Johnson (D-SD), Nay Kaufman (D-DE), Nay Kerry (D-MA), Nay Klobuchar (D-MN), Nay Kohl (D-WI), Nay Kyl (R-AZ), Yea Landrieu (D-LA), Yea Lautenberg (D-NJ), Nay Leahy (D-VT), Nay LeMieux (R-FL), Yea Levin (D-MI), Nay Lieberman (ID-CT), Nay Lincoln (D-AR), Yea Lugar (R-IN), Yea McCain (R-AZ), Yea McCaskill (D-MO), Nay McConnell (R-KY), Yea

Menendez (D-NJ), Nay Merkley (D-OR), Nay Mikulski (D-MD), Nay Murkowski (R-AK), Yea Murray (D-WA), Nay Nelson (D-FL), Nay Nelson (D-NE), Yea Pryor (D-AR), Yea Reed (D-RI), Nay Reid (D-NV), Nay Risch (R-ID), Yea Roberts (R-KS), Yea Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea Sanders (I-VT), Nay Schumer (D-NY), Nay Sessions (R-AL), Yea Shaheen (D-NH), Nay Shelby (R-AL), Yea Snowe (R-ME), Yea Specter (D-PA), Nay Stabenow (D-MI), Nay Tester (D-MT), Nay Thune (R-SD), Yea Udall (D-CO), Nay Udall (D-NM), Nay Vitter (R-LA), Yea Voinovich (R-OH), Yea Warner (D-VA), Nay Webb (D-VA), Nay Whitehouse (D-RI), Nay Wicker (R-MS), Yea Wyden (D-OR), Nay

See http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/06/11/11climatewire-effort-to-block-epa-fails-revealing-murky-pa-31482.html and http://murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=00a8c969-13ab-405f-8430-e4b627cf61f3&ContentType_id=b94acc28-404a-4fc6-b143-a9e15bf92da4&Group_id=c01df158-d935-4d7a-895d-f694ddf41624&MonthDisplay=6&YearDisplay=2010.

Reid Opens Senate Work Period with Plans for Jobs, Security, Energy

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid addressed his Senate this week on his agenda for action for the summertime work period – July 12 through the August recess.

Reid spoke on passing an emergency extension on expired unemployment benefits which also cuts taxes for middle class families and small businesses. “It’s something Republicans and Democrats should come together to finish because it’s something we can all be proud to support. More than that, it’s something each of our states desperately needs,” he said.

Small businesses have a bill on the table for more tax incentives and a new lending facility, the supplemental war appropriations bill would supply the “largest operation since the war [in Afghanistan] began,” and Reid hopes to send the Wall Street reform bill to the White House this month.

Regarding energy policy, Reid said: “[It] must strongly encourage companies to invest rapidly in technologies that make us safer, more competitive and more energy independent. That means immediately refocusing our efforts on clean and renewable energy – like the sun, the wind and geothermal energy – improving energy efficiency and using more biofuels.”

Under Reid’s order, eight Democratic committee leaders will produce their ideas on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill so they can be folded into the comprehensive energy legislation. “This spill underscores our need for a new energy policy,” Reid said.

For Reid’s full statement, visit http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2529767/posts. See also http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/2010/06/07/4/.

Associations’ Letter Urges Quick Senate Action on Energy Legislation

As Congress and the White House debate whether and when to take action on energy/climate legislation, the major efficiency and renewable energy trade associations joined together to issue a joint letter to the Senate Leadership urging quick action on energy legislation. The letter said:

Dear Senators Reid and McConnell:

We are writing to urge that the Senate move quickly to consider legislation promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, and biofuels, along with associated manufacturing opportunities. Such a policy would add millions of American jobs and utilize our own domestic, clean, inexhaustible, and rapidly deployable resources. Acting now will stimulate construction and operations jobs as well as manufacturing and supply chains, rather than passively losing these jobs to other countries.

A series of inconsistent and unstable policies have cost America its leadership in renewable energy and energy efficiency manufacturing and production. Attracting manufacturing will take a concerted effort, as evidenced by the actions being taken by our competitors, but America’s workforce, skills, and market are well suited for global leadership if stable policies are put in place. Important programs affecting renewable energy industries, energy efficiency initiatives and biofuels programs are all due to expire this year. Many of the jobs these industries support could be lost permanently to other countries. Many renewable manufacturers have almost ceased receiving orders because of the uncertainty of a long term policy.

Enacting policy now is urgent. Ensuring steady growth of the industries that will solve our climate, water, and waste challenges will be a critical way to address not only near term employment challenges but our long term environmental and energy security goals. Renewable energy, energy efficiency, and biofuels can make a significant down payment on carbon pollution targets. These sources are rapidly deployable today, immediately producing jobs, energy security, and environmental benefits.

The time has come for Congress to enact legislation providing long-term support for energy efficiency, renewable energy and biofuels. It is essential for American jobs, our national security, and the environment.

Sincerely,
Kateri Callahan, President Denise Bode, CEO
Alliance to Save Energy American Wind Energy Association
Bob Cleaves, President & CEO Ted Michaels, President
Biomass Power Association Energy Recovery Council
Karl Gawell, Executive Director Tom Buis, CEO
Geothermal Energy Association Growth Energy
Linda Church Ciocci, Executive Director Rhone Resch, President & CEO
National Hydropower Association Solar Energy Industries Association

Cantwell Amendment Vote Expected in Senate Next Week; GEA Signs Letter of Support

As the House and Senate continue to work on a “tax extenders bill,” Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) is proposing an amendment that would extend the Section 1603 Treasury Grant Program included in the stimulus bill for another two years. Under the provision, companies qualifying for the renewable tax credit can obtain a cash grant in lieu of the credit, which was intended to spur renewable project development despite the economic recession. However, that provision requires projects to be under construction by the end of this year to quality for the special cash grant.

Senator Cantwell’s amendment would expand the provision to include public power entities, and extend the deadline for the program by two additional years. The Senate is expected to return to the tax extenders bill next week.

The amendment is expected to be acted on by the Senate as it completes consideration of the tax extenders bill. GEA signed a joint letter of support along with other renewable energy trade associations, as follows:

Dear Senators Reid, McConnell, Baucus and Grassley:

The nation remains focused on the need to address urgent economic challenges, including the immediate need to maintain and generate jobs. America’s renewable energy industries have been a source of growth amidst the economic recession and can continue to create well-paying American jobs with your support of a crucial policy: the extension of the Section 1603 Treasury Grant Program (TGP). As leaders of America’s renewable energy trade associations, we urge you to support Senator Maria Cantwell’s proposed amendment to extend the Section 1603 Treasury Grant Program as part of the tax extenders bill that is expected to be considered by the Senate this week.

Section 1603 of the ARRA authorizes the Department of Treasury to issue grants to renewable energy facilities that would otherwise qualify for the investment tax credit that start construction in 2009 or 2010. This program has been extremely successful in both deploying renewable energy projects and creating jobs quickly. Two independent studies released in recent months confirm the number of jobs created from the TGP, and project further growth of well-paying American jobs with a 2 year extension of the program.

• The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report from April 2010 found the TGP created over 55,000 jobs in the wind and geothermal industries alone;
• EuPD Research released a study finding that the TGP supported 17,000 US solar jobs in 2009; • The same report forecasts the creation of 65,000 additional new jobs by 2015 in the solar and supporting industries across the US should the TGP be extended by two years.

These studies show the TGP has been successful and put tens of thousands of Americans to work. The Cantwell amendment would extend the start construction date to December 31, 2012, similar to provisions in Senator Diane Feinstein’s bill, S. 2899, the “Renewable Energy Incentives Act.” The enactment of Senator Cantwell’s amendment would continue the growth in America’s renewable energy industries, creating jobs and clean energy nationwide.

Large utility-scale renewable energy projects can take more than six months to arrange financing. Projects that cannot be certain about meeting the December 31st commence construction date are losing financing now. The certainty of an extension is necessary if we are going to realize all of the renewable energy projects currently in the pipeline.

We thank you for your consideration and ask for your support of the Cantwell amendment to extend and expand the TGP as part of the tax extenders bill.

Sincerely,
Denise A. Bode, Chief Executive Officer, American Wind Energy Association
Karl Gawell, Executive Director, Geothermal Energy Association
Linda Church Ciocci, Executive Director, National Hydropower Association
Rhone Resch, President and CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association

What Now After Health Care? Prospects for Congressional Action on Climate, Energy or Tax Incentives

2010-03-26T12:51:00.000-04:00

Now that Congress is finishing action on Health Care, the Administration's top priority, where might it turn? This is the question people in Washington are asking, and trying to "spin" to their advantage. It looks like Financial Reform legislation will be on the agenda soon. By most accounts after that climate and energy legislation, legislation to extend renewable energy tax credits, and possibly a new "green jobs" bill are near the top of the priority list for the Administration and congressional leadership.

Climate change still is an Administration top priority. The President held a meeting with key Senators at the White House early this month, and President Bill Clinton was said to be "working" the Senate on the issue. Last week, 22 Senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) urging him to take up climate legislation. Notably, however, all of the signers were Democrats.

"We believe the United States should consider bipartisan and comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation this year with a renewed focus on jobs and reduced dependence on foreign oil," the letter said. Signing the letter were Senators Tom Udall (N.M.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Michael Bennet (Colo.), Kay Hagan (N.C.), Ron Wyden (Ore.), Mark Begich (Alaska), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Tom Harkin (Iowa), Tom Carper (Del.), Mark Udall (Colo.), Al Franken (Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Patty Murray (Wash.), Ted Kaufman (Del.), Ronald Burris (Ill.), Bob Casey Jr. (Pa.), Mark Warner (Va.), Maria Cantwell (Wash.), Arlen Specter (Pa.), Jon Tester (Mont.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.).

If the Senate is able to pass climate legislation, it will have to meet in a special Conference Committee with the House to work out differences between their bills. The House passed Climate legislation last year: H.R. 2454- The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) of 2009. Championed by Rep. Waxman (D-CA) and Rep. Markey (D-MA), the House bill establishes a carbon cap and trade program, addresses siting of transmission lines, and includes a national Renewable Energy Standard (RES).

But, the question remains as to what climate bill would be taken up by the Senate, and what can successfully pass? The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee reported legislation late last year, but on a completely partisan vote. Because Democrats have lost their 60 vote margin in the Senate, some degree of bi-partisanship will be essential if any bill is going to get past a filibuster.

Senators Kerry (D-MA), Lieberman (I-CT) and Graham (R-SC) are working to develop bi-partisan climate legislation. Rumors abound about what is or may be in the bill being drafted by the three Senators, and various trial balloons have been floated regarding their closed door discussions. One item sure to be considered was circulated by Senator Graham, a national Clean Energy Standard (or CES) which could be met by new generation from renewable energy, energy efficiency, nuclear power or advanced coal generation. Senator Graham's proposed CES would eventually reach the level of requiring 50% of power generation from qualified sources by 2050. Other provisions reported to be under consideration by the three Senators have recently drawn public criticism from some groups supporting climate legislation. In particular, major environmental groups have raised concerns about possible provisions to pre-empt state laws or EPA regulatory action.

If climate legislation is cannot break through the filibuster blockade, two related courses of action are seen as possible. First, it could take action on legislation to block or delay EPA from taking action on adopting greenhouse gas regulations. Senator Murkowski (R-AK) has introduced legislation to strip EPA of any authority to regulate greenhouse emissions (S.J.Res. 26), and Senator Rockefeller (D-WV) has sponsored legislation to delay any regulation by at least two years (S.3072). Either of these measures could also be offered as an amendment to other pending legislation in the Senate, and environmental groups will have to work diligently to avoid a climate set-back should either reach a vote.

Alternatively, the Senate could focus solely on energy legislation, which might have more bi-partisan support. The Senate Energy Committee reported energy legislation which it would want included in any Senate version of a climate bill. S. 1462- American Clean Energy and Leadership Act (ACELA). Sen. Bingaman (D-NM) establishes a national RES, address transmission siting, and includes other clean energy initiatives. This legislation could be considered by the Senate separate from climate legislation, and some believe it would stand a better chance of passage if it was decoupled from a discussion of cap-and-trade and/or carbon taxes.

Some have proposed moving ahead with legislation on energy coupled with energy tax incentives. Doing so would potentially build upon several bills, including S. 1462, and legislation introduced in the House to extend the current renewable energy tax grant provisions, H.R. 4599, the Renewable Energy Expansion Act of 2010 sponsored by Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR). An energy-energy and tax incentives bill appears to have a lot of appeal among renewable advocates, but could be viewed as a set-back for the Administration's stated priority of enacting comprehensive climate change legislation.

Leaders in both the House and Senate have expressed interest in action on a "green jobs bill." Perhaps, even before it tries to tackle some of the larger issues like climate change. House Ways and Means Committee reportedly may be planning to begin work on such legislation as soon as Congress returns from its Easter/Passover District Work Period.

One concern about any renewable energy tax legislation is whether there will be attempts to add crippling amendments. Recent public criticism raised by Senator Shumer (D-NY) and the Apollo Alliance about renewable power development in the US (see: http://apolloalliance.org/made-in-america/report-us-must-do-more-to-prevent-loss-of-clean-energy-manufacturing-jobs-2/) could lead to amendments that might have far reaching consequences.

In the end, it needs to be stressed that even action on a green jobs bill will require at least a limited degree of bi-partisan support, and that may come down to whether there is fall-out from the recent health care debate. While passage of national health care legislation has clearly emboldened Democrats, it appears to have stiffened the opposition and increased the unity of the Republicans in both the House and Senate. With mid-term elections in sight, what may happen in the remaining months of this Congress could depend more upon what the sentiments of the public are about these issues. And defining public opinion is not always easy.

Both energy security and climate change are highly volatile issues. Will there be a new crisis on the energy or climate fronts in the coming months that will drive the political wheels of Washington and suddenly propel action on these issues? It's definitely not out of the question. And knowing how crises have driven these issues in the past, the possibility of such an event cannot be ignored in the political calculations being made about the upcoming elections and whether to engage in or seek to block legislation.

So, what's next? Most observers are saying, let's see what happens after the Easter "District Work Period" which is scheduled from March 29-April 9. After a brief cooling off period, we may find out if there is any room left for bi-partisanship. That will define whether Congress can act on the big issues, climate change and energy policy, or be limited to addressing tax-extenders and finishing the dozen annual appropriations bills needed to keep the government running -- and calling itself lucky if it can even finish those before Congress adjourns in the Fall.

To track the status of legislation by sponsor of bill number, go to: http://www.thomas.gov/.

Geothermal Power Could Top 10 Gigawatts, New Industry Report Shows

2009-09-29T18:11:00.000-04:00

A new report by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) shows strong growth in new geothermal power projects continuing through 2009. U.S. Geothermal Power Production and Development Update, September 2009 identifies 144 new geothermal projects under development in fourteen states that could represent as much as 7,100 MW of new baseload power capacity. When added to the 3,100 MW of existing capacity, 10 Gigawatts of geothermal power appears to be feasible.

“It is great to see that between March 2009 and September 2009 there was a continued increase in new geothermal projects,” remarked Dan Jennejohn, the report's author. “Interest in geothermal development continues to grow, with the number of projects up 50% and megawatts under development nearly doubling over the past two years." He added, "In 2009, we are seeing new power projects being initiated as well as new applications, such as geothermal-hydrocarbon coproduction, being pursued.”

The report found a total of 144 projects under development that could add between 4,699.9 and 7,109.9 MW of power to the U.S. geothermal energy output. At the high end, that would be enough baseload power to supply about 20% of California’s total electric power in 2008 — or enough generating capacity to supply the power needs of about 7.2 million people.

On a state-by-state basis the GEA report found: (state, number of projects/potential MW) — Alaska, 6/70–115 MW; Arizona 1/2–20 MW; California, 37/1841.8–2435.8 MW; Colorado, 1/10 MW, Florida 1/0.2–1 MW; Hawaii, 2/8 MW; Idaho 5/238–326 MW; Louisiana 1/.05 MW; Mississippi 1/.05 MW; Nevada, 64/1876.4–3473.4 MW; New Mexico, 1/20 MW, Oregon, 13/317.2–368.2 MW, Utah, 10/272.4–332.4 MW; Washington 1/Unspecified.

The number of states with geothermal projects under development also increased, from 12 to 14 over the past six months, with the addition of two oil-field co-production projects in Louisiana and Mississippi. "Despite the recession, geothermal power projects continue to move forward," observed Karl Gawell, Executive Director of GEA.

While the report shows generally good news, it also shows a decline in projects currently listed in "phase 4," or under construction. According to GEA this was due to 4 new geothermal power projects moving to completion, but also reflects difficulty obtaining final permits and difficulty obtaining financing.

The recession, as the report confirms, is having an impact on the industry, according to GEA,. "Financing is expensive and scarce, and available lenders are requiring much more work be done before they will finance projects," noted Gawell. "We hope the tax, loan guarantee, and DOE spending provisions of the stimulus bill will help turn this around, but there have been delays implementing these initiatives by the federal agencies."

"It also appears that some projects seeking final construction permits are having difficulty acquiring them because of the tremendous demands being placed on federal, state, and local agencies by a wave of renewable energy project applications," Gawell noted. "These geothermal projects would otherwise be 'ready to go' bringing new jobs and spurring economic growth," he stressed, "So it's important that federal and state agencies don't neglect the needs of geothermal projects."

Copies of the report will be available at the GEA booth at the Geothermal Energy Expo in Reno, Nevada, which takes place from October 4–7, 2009. (For information on the Expo go to: http://www.geothermalenergy2009.com/.) There will be a presentation on the report at the Expo on Tuesday, October 6 at 10am which will be webcast. Also, copies of U.S. Geothermal Power Production and Development Update, September 2009 are available to download free of charge from the GEA Web site at: http://www.geo-energy.org.

Geothermal Energy Expo: Just Days Away

2009-09-25T20:17:00.000-04:00

Exhibitors, presenters, sponsors, attendees and staff all eagerly anticipate the geothermal event of the year, GEA's Geothermal Energy Expo and the GRC Annual Meetings, coming next month October 4-7 in Reno, Nevada. The site is the Peppermill Resort, where a geothermal well is expected to go on line in January.

So how does one navigate the maze of industry celebration and business that is the Expo Hall? This year we are introducing Twitter updates available for delivery to your cell phone to help you keep up with who's doing what and when. Details coming; follow us at http://twitter.com/GEAgeoenergy.

Members Meeting
The festivities actually kick off on Saturday, October 3 with our Annual Members Meeting and Policy Workshop. This is a great way to become more familiar with GEA, even if you are not a member. We'll provide an overview of our activities over the past year and will be privileged to hear from several experts and policy leaders. Employees of GEA member companies and all companies exhibiting at the 2009 GEA Geothermal Energy Expo are encouraged to participate by registering at http://www.geo-energy.org/new_expo/events.asp.

Opening Reception
The Geothermal Energy Association and Geothermal Resources Council invite you to the official kick-off on Sunday, October 4, 6-8:30pm.

Webcast
Can't make it to the Expo? We'll miss you, but you can still join us from afar. Our first-ever Geothermal Energy Expo Webcast will take place Tuesday, October 6, 10am to 2pm Pacific Time and will feature speakers from exhibiting companies as well as a few other faces. Register at http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=61325.

Poker Tournament
Last year's poker tournament was so popular that we had ot bring it back for another round. This will take place October 6, 9pm-midnight. We are playing for real money so bring your game face. You can register now by contacting us or at the Expo registration desk. Entry fee is $125.

Best in Show Awards
On the final day of the Expo, Wednesday, October 7 at 11am, GEA will celebrate by presenting our much-anticipated, highly sought-after Best in Show Awards to exhibitors chosen by a select panel of judges...and don't forget to vote for the People's Choice Award.

We can't wait to see you. Stop by our booth and say hi, and don't forget to pick up a copy of our newest Update on U.S. Geothermal Power Production and Development (the "Industry Update"), to be released just days before the Expo. For more details on all Expo-related events visit the Expo Web site at http://www.geo-energy.org/new_expo/default.asp.

Governor's Executive Order Boosting Renewable Energy to 33% Will Work for California and the West, Industry Association Says

2009-09-16T00:23:00.000-04:00

Representing the US geothermal power industry, the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) supports Governor Schwarzenegger's Executive Order to boost California's renewable energy power standard to 33% by 2020. "GEA fully supports the Governor's initiative to boost the state's renewable energy goal," Karl Gawell, GEA's Executive Director said. "We believe that the Governor has crafted an RPS strategy that avoids the unnecessary delivery restrictions and complexity of the bills that he has vetoed. As a result, the Governor's Executive Order works not just for California, but also for all the other western states that are trying to bring more renewable energy online in the next 10 years."

Geothermal power is California's most productive renewable resource (excluding large hydropower, which the state does not categorize as renewable), providing over 40% of the state's renewable power in 2008. "There are thousands of megawatts of additional geothermal energy that can be developed in California and nearby states to help achieve or even exceed the 33% goal announced today by the Governor,” Gawell added.

According to John McCaull, GEA’s Western States Representative, "Recent studies have shown that the most cost-effective system for achieving the renewable portfolio standards adopted by states such as California and Nevada is to recognize that project location, environmental concerns, grid reliability, cost containment, and transmission planning require that we look at all available resource options." In June 2009, several western states and the Western Governor’s Association (WGA) simultaneously released long-awaited studies pointing to geothermal energy as one of the nation’s most cost-effective and reliable renewable energy resources that should be given priority as an expanded electricity transmission grid is planned.

Following those studies, McCaull submitted formal analysis and comments from GEA on how California can meet near-term RPS requirements through an increased reliance on geothermal energy in a report to the state's Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative (RETI) process. GEA’s August 2009 comments entitled Ensuring Reliable, Baseload Renewable Energy For The West By 2015 are available at: http://www.geo-energy.org/publications/reports/GEA_Final_Comments_RETI_Phase_2A_Report.pdf

The Largest Geothermal Gathering in the World Expected at Geothermal Expo in Reno

2009-09-10T16:25:00.000-04:00

The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), the geothermal industry's trade association is thrilled to be holding the Geothermal Energy Expo in tandem with the GRC's Annual Meeting, October 4th-7th. The Geothermal Energy Expo is the world's largest gathering of geothermal industry vendors exhibiting their projects, equipment, services and state of the art technology to the geothermal community. This year's Expo will host over 120 vendors.

You might see a few Stetson hats poking above the crowd, sport coats and ties, a good number of blue jeans and dusty hiking boots, and everything in between as thousands unite as geothermal enthusiasts. They will come from places as diverse as the companies they represent, and they will all be in Reno for the Geothermal Energy Expo.

At noon on Monday, October 5^th the Geothermal Energy Expo officially opens, featuring over 120 exhibits from companies ranging from Ormat Technologies to Gradient Geothermal. Regular events and speakers are scheduled for the Expo Hall from Monday at noon through noon on Wednesday. The Expo hours are: Monday, noon-5pm, Tuesday, 9am-6pm and Wednesday, 9am-2pm. Admission to the Expo on a daily basis is only $50 per person, per day.

A new addition to our annual Geothermal Energy Expo will be a FREE webcast from the Expo floor on Tuesday, October 6^th from 10am-2pm PT. This will enable like-minded individuals who can’t make the trip out to Reno to get the low-down on the geothermal companies presenting who will share their projects, equipment, services, and state-of-the-art technology. Registration will be FREE and can be made online at: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=61325.

We will also be bringing back last year’s popular Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament on Tuesday evening, October 6^th from 9pm to midnight. Also, don’t miss the GEA 2009 Best in Show award presentations in the Expo Hall on Wednesday, October 7^th at 11am where GEA will acknowledge the best of the best in geothermal exhibition.

Last year nearly 1800 people walked the Expo floor of the Geothermal Energy Expo, a mind-blowing 80% increase over the previous year. Our participants are expected to set records for us yet again.

To learn more about exhibitors, events, sponsorship, guest information, and to register, visit http://www.geothermalenergy2009.com/. (Booth space is sold out).

Case Studies, Technology, and Incentives to be Featured at Geothermal Heating and Small Power Workshop

2009-07-22T00:27:00.000-04:00

On August 12 the Geothermal Energy Association and the Oregon Institute of Technology's Geo-Heat Center will be holding a workshop focusing on geothermal direct heat uses and small power production. "Recent technology developments, new state and federal tax incentives, and growing public concern about climate change are all working to promote geothermal energy, and direct heating and small power are growth areas," according to Karl Gawell, GEA's Executive Director.

The GEA-OIT workshop will bring together -- for the first time ever -- those interested in using geothermal energy for distributed power generation and direct heating purposes from across the West. Pratt &Whitney Power Systems, maker of the PureCycle® Power System, is the Gold Level Sponsor of the event, and the Oregon Department of Energy is a cosponsor.

The workshop will feature presentations on successful geothermal uses for school heating, district heating, fish farming, greenhouses, spas/resorts, and small power production - including generation utilizing hot water from oil and gas wells. In addition, Dr. John Lund, Director, GeoHeat Center, Oregon Institute of Technology, will make a presentations on the OIT heating and power systems and the total US potential for geothermal heating and small power production.

Among the leading power equipment suppliers, drilling and exploration firms, and engineering and construction companies on the agenda are Pratt and Whitney Power Systems, Turbine Air Systems, SNC-Lavalin , and ThermaSource. Representative from the US Department of Energy, Oregon Department of Energy, and Oregon Environmental Trust, the US Bureau of Land Management and the Geothermal Energy Association will discuss programs that can help those interested in utilizing geothermal energy, including new federal and state financial incentives.

OIT's Klamath Falls campus is a world-class example of both geothermal direct use heating and small power production. OIT expects its new geothermal power plant will be up and running by the time of the workshop. Together with its geothermal heating systems, OIT's campus will be a practical showcase for those attending the event.

While geothermal resources have been used for heating purposes in the West for over 100 years, small power technology utilizing geothermal resources is a new trend. Alaska, Florida, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming have each seen or will soon see geothermal power produced for the first time. In each of these cases the power is being used locally for power generation for a resort, commercial business, or similar site.

Registration for the August 12 Workshop is $195 for the general public and $95 for GEA Members, non-profit groups, government employees. Registration includes workshop materials, snacks, and lunch. OIT has organized a field trip for the following day, and registration for the August 13 Field Trip is an additional $75.

For more information, or to register for the workshop or field trip, visit: www.geo-energy.org

Industry Group Announces Workshop on Two New Growth Areas for Geothermal in the US -- Distributed/Small Power Generation and Direct Use Heating

2009-06-18T17:48:00.000-04:00

Washington -- Klamath Falls, Oregon will be the site of a workshop intended to promote two exciting growth areas for geothermal energy in the United States. On August 12 the Geothermal Energy Association and the Oregon Institute of Technology's Geo-Heat Center will be holding a workshop focusing on direct heat and small power utilization. Pratt &Whitney Power Systems, maker of the PureCycle® Power System, is the Gold Level Sponsor of the event.

"This workshop will bring together -- for the first time ever -- those interested in using geothermal energy for distributed generation and direct heating purposes," noted Karl Gawell, Executive Director of GEA. "New technology developments, state and federal laws and incentives, and growing concern about climate change are driving a strong growth trend in both areas," he added.

In many states, special incentives are being offered for small, renewable power generation less than 10 MW.

For direct use geothermal, market growth for space heating and agricultural drying grew by 9.3% and 10.4% between 2000 and 2005. A renewed interest in direct use in the Western US is being spurred in part by provisions of the 2005 energy bill which encourages direct use geothermal on public lands by:

Simplifying royalty payments to modest fee
Allowing non-competitive lease application
Allowing lease application for only lands needed – no minimum acreage
Granting states, local governments, tribes use of federal geothermal resources for public purposes at little/no cost

OIT's Klamath Falls campus is a world-class example of both geothermal direct use heating and small power production. "Our 280 kW Pratt &Whitney power plant will be up and running by the time of the workshop," noted John Lund, Director of the OIT Geo-Heat Center. "This will be the first geothermal power generation in Oregon, and together with our geothermal heating systems OIT's campus will be a practical showcase for those interested in these technologies," he said.

The GEA-OIT Workshop is planned for August 12 in Klamath Falls, in addition OIT has organized a field trip for the following day. Registration for the August 12 Workshop is $195 for the general public and $95 for GEA Members, non-profit groups, government employees. Registration includes workshop materials, snacks, and lunch. Registration for the August 13 Field Trip is an additional $75.

For more information, or to register for the workshop or field trip, visit: www.geo-energy.org.

Geothermal Industry Applauds President Obama's Announcement, Says Stimulus Funds Will Help Spur Economic Recovery

2009-05-27T12:30:00.000-04:00

The Geothermal Energy Association today applauded President Obama's announcement of $350 million in new investment in geothermal energy. "There are more geothermal power projects under development today than have been built in the history of the United States," according to Karl Gawell, GEA's Executive Director. "This stimulus funding will help make sure those projects are successfully completed and will help develop the technology needed to bring tens of thousands of additional megawatts on line," he added.

According to the GEA's March 2009 Industry Update, there were 126 new geothermal projects under development with the potential to put 5,500 MW of new geothermal power on line, equivalent to 15,000 MW – 20,000 MW from wind turbines or enough power for 5.5 million California homes, according to GEA. New geothermal power projects were identified in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. GEA estimates that bringing these projects on line could help economic recovery by spurring as many as 100,000 new jobs.

GEA was also enthusiastic about the scope of the announcement. The President's announcement included funding for geothermal demonstration projects, enhanced geothermal systems, innovative exploration techniques, and new resource assessment. "These are all critical areas for geothermal technology development," Gawell stated. "Geothermal energy is a widespread and complex resource base, and this announcement recognizes the need to move forward with technology development across several different applications and resources," he added.

Copies of U.S. Geothermal Power Production and Development Update, March 2009 are available to download free of charge from the GEA Web site at: http://www.geo-energy.org.

Geothermal Power Experts to Convene in Seattle

2009-05-13T18:32:00.000-04:00

Geothermal power is poised for dramatic growth, and the companies that will bring new renewable power to the West will be converging on Seattle for the next Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) "Technology, Finance, and Development Workshop" on June 3.

Among the presenters at the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) event will be:

Spokespersons for companies leading new technology innovation and project development, including Paul Thomsen of Ormat Technologies, Michael Ronzello of Pratt and Whitney Power Systems, and Hank Sennott of Enel North America.
GEA's Executive Director, Karl Gawell, who will discuss the tax incentives, loan guarantees, and other new incentives for geothermal power being advanced in Washington.
Ed Wall, Program Director, U.S. Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Program, which was just provided nearly $500 million to support new geothermal technology development and applications.

"Utility scale and distributed generation geothermal projects are springing up across the U.S. -- from Florida to Alaska -- in response to the new push for clean, renewable energy coming from Congress and the Obama Administration," Gawell said. "Together new federal and state incentives will lead to billions of dollars of new investment in geothermal power creating tens of thousands of new jobs in the U.S.," he added.

Geothermal companies participating in the workshop represent over 40 new geothermal power projects which together will bring roughly 1,000 MW of power on line, enough power to meet the household energy needs of Seattle and Portland combined. In addition to Ormat, Pratt and Whitney, and Enel, geothermal companies scheduled to present include: AltaRock Energy, Power Engineers, Raser Technologies, Western GeoPower, Nevada Geothermal Power, Turbine Air Systems, ThermaSource, Google.org, OIT GeoHeat Center and U.S. Renewables Group.

Along with Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, participants will include environmental representatives, local and state government officials, legal and regulatory experts, and others who will join the geothermal community in the day-long program covering nearly every aspect of this exciting renewable energy technology.

"The West has a huge untapped geothermal energy potential," according to Gawell. "This workshop will help realize this potential by encouraging collaboration between leading geothermal developers, finance and investment specialists, government officials, lawyers, and technology experts from around the nation," he said.

Registration for the event is $195 for GEA Members and $295 for non-members (price includes light breakfast, lunch, snack, and workshop proceedings). Reduced price registrations are available for non-profit organizations and credential press are complimentary—please contact Kathy Kent at kathy@geo-energy for confirmation.

The workshop will be held at the Washington Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, Washington from 8am to 5:30pm on June 3, 2009. For more information and to register, visit: http://www.geo-energy.org.

Geothermal Industry Group Announces Seattle Workshop

2009-04-14T13:33:00.000-04:00

Washington, DC -- The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) has announced its next Geothermal Finance, Technology, and Development Workshop will be held on Wednesday, June 3, in Seattle, WA at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. "The West has a huge untapped geothermal energy potential," according to Karl Gawell, GEA's Executive Director. "This workshop will help realize this potential by encouraging collaboration between leading geothermal developers, finance and investment specialists, government officials, lawyers, and technology experts from around the nation," he said.

The day-long workshop is being held in cooperation with the Mayor of Seattle’s office and with the support of Gold Level Sponsors Ormat and Pratt and Whitney Power Systems. It will include an update on the U.S. geothermal market and keynote presentations by the Mayor of Seattle, Greg Nickels, and other notable government and industry leaders.

Panels and discussion will include:

· project development, including presentations from leading project developers on new geothermal projects and keys to successful development;

· technology, including a basic tutorial on understanding geothermal resources and technology and discussion on new and future developments in geothermal technology;

· finance, including information on the federal stimulus, the status of federal and state incentives, and approaches to project financing; and

· community/environmental issues and tribal and power company perspectives, with environmental and tribal leaders speaking to geothermal issues and benefits on a local scale

Confirmed speakers include: Karl Gawell, GEA; Greg Nickels, Mayor of Seattle; Senator Adam Kline, State of Washington; Susan Petty, AltaRock Energy; Kevin Wallace, POWER Engineers;
Dave Norman, Washington State Geologist; Dave Sjoding, Washington State University; Phil Messer, PBS&J; Ken MacLeod, Western GeoPower; Michael Hayter, Raser Technologies; Dan Schochet, Ram Power; Hank Sennott, Enel NA; Ed Wall, US DOE; Paul Thomsen, Ormat; Halley Dickey, Turbine Air Systems; Lou Capuano, ThermaSource; Charles Baron, Google; Ross Macfarlane, Climate Solutions; Laurie McClenahan Hietter, RMT; Roger Taylor, State, Local & Tribal Deployment, National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Michael O’Connell, Stoel Rives, LLP; Michael Devine, NWB Economic Development Corp; Jonathan Weisgall, MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company; Mark Taylor, New Energy Finance; Tom King, US Renewables Group; CJ Arrigo, Glacier Capital Partners; John McIlveen, Jacobs and Company Securities; Jerry Fish, Stoel Rives; John Pierce, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich Rosati; Kermit Witherbee, US Bureau of Land Management; Bob Fujimoto, US Forest Service; Chuck Gilfoy, CalEnergy, Craig Collar, Snohomish PUD; and Steve Ponder, NV Energy.

For more information and to register visit: http://www.geo-energy.org.

Geothermal Showcase, Finance Workshop, and Small Power Workshop Announced by Leading Industry Group

2009-03-16T16:35:00.000-04:00

Washington, DC -- The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) announces three important geothermal events for 2009. GEA's events will showcase geothermal projects to the energy community in Washington DC, bring developers together with financiers in Seattle, and promote small power and direct use geothermal growth in the U.S. in Oregon, respectively.

May 6, 2009, Geothermal Showcase, Newseum, Washington, DC - If you can't visit geothermal projects under development in the West, come to the Newseum and let us take you there. Taking place in Washington, DC on Wednesday, May 6, 2009, GEA along with Gold Level Sponsors Ormat, UTC Power, and Enel North America will be hosting a Geothermal Energy Project Showcase at the Newseum. Catering to the DC energy, policy, and technology community, leading geothermal companies will present video footage of geothermal power projects taking place in the U.S. and internationally. As part of this half-day event, top experts will discuss the potential impact geothermal development can have on our energy needs by implementing experimental technologies, hydrothermal, co-production, EGS, small power, and geothermal heating and cooling. June 3, 2009, Geothermal Finance, Technology, and Development Workshop in Seattle, WA -- This will be the fourth in a sell-out series of workshops for anyone interested in financing or development of geothermal power. On Wednesday, June 3, 2009, GEA along with Gold Level Sponsors Ormat and UTC Power will hold a Geothermal Finance, Technology, and Development Workshop in Seattle, WA. This event will be held in cooperation with the Mayor of Seattle’s office at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. The day-long workshop will include a U.S. Geothermal update, panels on project development, technology, finance, community/environmental issues, tribal and power company perspectives, and keynote presentations by the Mayor of Seattle, Greg Nickels, and other notable speakers.
August 12, 2009, Small Power and Direct Use Workshop, Klamath Falls, Oregon -- Distributed generation and commercial and industrial uses of geothermal energy are both exciting new growth areas to be explored. This workshop will take place on a campus soon to be heated and powered entirely by geothermal energy! In August of 2009, GEA in cooperation with the GeoHeat Center at the Oregon Institute of Technology and Gold Level Sponsor UTC Power will host a geothermal direct use and small power workshop in Klamath Falls, Oregon. This all-day workshop (with OR geothermal site tour the following day) will include the how-to's of financing a small power use project, discussion on state-of-the-art advancements for direct use technology for building and commercial uses, presentations on small projects and direct use projects today, information about drilling and exploration for such projects, and more. For more information, including sponsorship and registration materials, please go to www.geo-energy.org, or contact Kathy Kent at GEA by emailing kathy@geo-energy.org.

Geothermal Power Continues Strong Growth, New Industry Report Shows

2009-03-04T15:38:00.000-05:00

A new report by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) shows strong growth in new geothermal power projects continuing into 2009. "There has been a 25% increase in new geothermal projects from August of 2008, when the last GEA report was released. There is also an increase in overall production potential by 35%," notes Kara Slack, the report's author.

The report also notes that the number of states producing geothermal power has increased from 7 to 8 with the addition of Wyoming. "Geothermal power projects continue to move forward, with new projects being added at an increasing rate," according to Karl Gawell, Executive Director of GEA.

The report identifies a total of 126 projects under development with the potential to put 5,500 MW of new geothermal power on line, equivalent to 15,000 MW – 20,000 MW from wind turbines or enough power for 5.5 million California homes, according to GEA. New geothermal power projects were identified in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

“It is great to see that between August 2008 and March 2009, there was a jump of about 1,500 MW in new geothermal projects,” remarks Slack. “Interest in geothermal development continues to grow. We are seeing new entrants to the industry, in part because of new leasing by BLM and several new projects by the U.S. Navy," she adds.

According to the GEA report, Nevada, with 58 confirmed projects, has the most production under development. California is second with 27 projects, followed by Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Alaska, respectively.

"The report shows a substantial movement of projects into the later stages of development, the permitting and construction phases," Gawell points out. "If federal and state governments give them the support and priority they need, most of these projects could be on line in a few years." GEA estimates that bringing these projects on line could help economic recovery, spurring as many as 100,000 new jobs.

GEA will have copies of the report available at their booth (#1412) at the Renewable Energy World (REW) Conference and Expo, March 10–12, in Las Vegas. In addition, Karl Gawell will be making a presentation on the report as part of the REW Panel Discussion, U.S. Geothermal Market, March 11, 1:30–3:30pm, Tropical D. Copies of U.S. Geothermal Power Production and Development Update, March 2009 are available to download free of charge from the GEA Web site at: http://www.geo-energy.org.

New Guide to Geothermal Energy Available To Download Free!

2009-02-13T19:19:00.000-05:00

If you have questions about geothermal energy, the Geothermal Energy Association has issued a new report that will provide you with answers. Geothermal 101: Basics of Geothermal Energy Production and Use, edited by Leslie Blodgett and Kara Slack of GEA, covers the essentials of geothermal energy from electric power to residential heat pumps. "Whether you are an educator, student, policymaker, or industry specialist, this report will serve as a guide for your geothermal education," noted Leslie Blodgett, co-editor of the report.

Ever wonder how a geothermal power plant works? Want to know more about how geothermal energy can help reduce global warming? Curious about where geothermal resources are located? This 50-page guide will help you find the answers to these and many other questions. It includes 30 charts, tables, maps, and pictures to help the reader understand the power behind one of the fastest growing renewable technologies – the power of the earth’s heat.

Today the U.S. has about 3,000 MW of geothermal electricity connected to the grid. In addition, as of August 2008, almost 4,000 MW of new geothermal power plant capacity is under development. Worldwide, geothermal energy supplies more than 10,000 MW to 24 countries and now produces enough electricity to meet the needs of 60 million people.

“There is a tremendous interest in geothermal energy and its largely untapped potential to help address our energy and climate problems,” noted Karl Gawell, GEA’s Executive Director. “GEA hopes that making this report available will help tap the creativity and imagination of thousands of people to help expand the use of this natural energy source.”

“We have worked hard to make the report readable, while still being thoroughly researched and reviewed,” commented co-editor Kara Slack. The report includes simple definitions, descriptions, and figures and cites key national reports that provide further information. Information and references have been updated with the most recent materials. “Whether you are new to the basics or have been working in the field for years, this report provides valuable information,” she added.

The report is currently available on GEA’s Web site in parts at http://www.geo-energy.org/aboutGE.asp and is available to download in PDF format at http://www.geo-energy.org/publications/reports.asp.

Geothermal Energy Bringing Millions of New Dollars to Federal, State, and Local Governments, Industry Report Concludes

2009-01-15T15:41:00.000-05:00

According to a new report issued today by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), changes made in 2005 to federal geothermal leasing laws are bringing in millions of new and additional dollars to federal, state, and county government coffers. In just two years, FY 2007 and FY 2008, $82 million in new revenues were generated by geothermal activities, according to GEA.

Since 2005, the new policy to competitively lease land for geothermal development has created an impressive new revenue stream for the federal government. Three competitive geothermal lease sales in 2007 and 2008 for parcels in California, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah generated $56 million in income. In addition to revenues from the lease sales, income from federal royalties has also continued to increase. Overall, geothermal leasing and production generated $40.87 million in 2007 and $42 million in 2008.

A total of $13.5 million from revenues in 2007 and 2008 was retained by the federal government and placed in the Geothermal Royalty Fund for use by the Department of Interior. The revenues generated by the changes made in 2005 have allowed the federal government to implement the new law and support the administrative, environmental, and other actions needed to process geothermal leases and hold new lease sales.

Six states—California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Utah—collectively received $27 million for 2007 and 2008 as their share of federal geothermal funds, according to the report. “The legislature of each state can decide how to use these funds provided they give priority to the parts of the State socially or economically impacted by the development of geothermal resources so that they can plan, construct and maintain public facilities, and provide public services,” the report states.

One of the most novel developments from the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was the distribution of funds directly to county governments: $4.3 million in 2007 and $9.1 million in 2008. Local governments used these new funds to “…support departments impacted directly or indirectly by geothermal development, such as public services, emergency services, and roads and bridges,” according to the report.

Future trends appear to indicate that this geothermal windfall to the federal, state, and local governments will continue. “It would appear that federal, state, and county revenues should continue to increase and their distribution to more counties and states expand as additional areas are leased and developed in the future,” commented Timothée Néron-Bancel, GEA Research Association and author of the report.

The full report, Geothermal Revenue Under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 by Timothée Néron-Bancel, is available to download free of charge from the GEA website at www.geo-energy.org.

2008 Geothermal Conference/Expo Breaks Previous Records, 2009 Event Announced

2008-11-13T14:42:00.000-05:00

Attendance at the Geothermal Energy 2008 Conference and Expo broke previous attendance records, with visitors up 80% over 2007, according to the Geothermal Energy Association. Geothermal Energy 2008 was held in Reno, Nevada, from October 5th through the 8th. According to GEA 1,800 people visited the Expo Hall, up over 800 from the 2007 event.

With a steady increase in number of geothermal projects under development, GEA is looking ahead to an even stronger program next year. “In January 2006, The Western Governors Association’s Geothermal Task Force projected 15,000 MW of geothermal power on-line by 2025; at the current pace, geothermal production could exceed this estimate,” according to Karl Gawell, GEA’s Executive Director.

Congress has extended the federal production tax credit for new geothermal projects through 2010. Together federal tax credits and requirements at the state level for increased renewable power are spurring rapid expansion of the geothermal industry, according to GEA. “Geothermal energy is a bright spot in the economy, and the Expo is the meeting place for everyone interested in this exciting industry,” noted Kathy Kent, GEA’s Marketing and Events Manager.

Over 78 companies exhibited at the 2008 Expo, involving a wide range of companies including developers, drillers, financers, and more. This is a nearly 70% increase from the 50 exhibitors in 2007. To view a complete listing of all exhibitors for 2008, please visit the GEA website at: http://www.geo-energy.org/2008_ts/exhibitors_list.html. Major Expo sponsors were Ormat, UTC Power, Chevron, Glitnir Bank, Geothermal Development Associations, Stoel Rives LLP, Jacobs and Company Securities, Nevada Geothermal Power, Inc., McDonald Carano Wilson LLP, Terra Caliente LLC, Dundee Securities, Vulcan Power, and US Geothermal. In addition to the sponsors, speakers in the Expo hall included representatives from Google, Enel North America, and New Energy Finance.

The 2009 Geothermal Energy Conference and Expo will be held once again in Reno at the Peppermill, October 4–7, 2009. Information about the event will be posted on GEA’s web site at www.geo-energy.org in the near future. Meanwhile, to be added to the exhibitor participant list or to receive priority emails about the event, email Kathy Kent, kathy@geo-energy.org.

Best in Show Booth Prize Winners

2008-10-09T01:22:00.000-04:00

Wednesday morning, GEA presented prizes for the best Expo booths.

The winners...

TNG Energy Services for Best in Show Creative Giveaway at Booth:

"geothermal sauce"

STORK H&E Turbo Blading for Best in Show Small Booth:

Geysir Green Energy/ENEX, for Best in Show Large Booth:

ThermaSource, for Best in Show Audience Choice:

Congratulations to everyone.

On the Second Day of the GEA Expo

2008-10-07T22:43:00.003-04:00

On the second full day of exhibition, the Expo Hall was open from 8am-6pm, a long day but well worth it for everyone I've talked to. I visited many of the booths, watching as deals were made, technologies were discussed, and geothermal energy was the center of it all. I even got a chance to squeeze in conversations with some of the exhibitors - when they weren't already deep in discussion. I was pleased to find that there were very few people who weren't completely happy with the contacts they were able to make, and even those few were still getting a lot out of the Expo in general and had good things to say.

Walk-in registration has kept busy. We haven't tallied the totals, but at a rough estimate, we've had about 1,600 people go through the Expo Hall - an over 60% increase from last year. And we still have another day to go!

Scenes from the floor...

Visit to the Steamboat Complex - a photographic tour

2008-10-07T11:33:00.001-04:00

Holding this geothermal program in Reno has sparked conversations with the locals because Nevada is one of the top states in renewable energy, and the Reno area is the Nevada gold mine for geothermal energy. Just 15 minutes from the Peppermill Hotel is the Steamboat Complex, where several geothermal power plants are operated in a system that together produces over 80 MW of power.

A highlight for me was taking the short trip to see Steamboat. My tour guide was Dan Fleischmann, pictured at right, of Ormat Technologies (the company that runs the complex). He was informative and insightful, providing an insider's look into several of the separate setups. He explained that Steamboat is really an ideal situation. From the surface, the hills provide an uneven surface, making it easy to envision the fractured rock beneath - essential for geothermal production. Because there are many plants in one location, they intertwine and work together. Dan took me to the Galena 3, which came online this year, and the Richard Burdett - both binary plants.

Since this was my first visit to a geothermal plant, I was excited to see first-hand how it works, as hot water and fractured rock, the key elements of geothermal production, are transformed into electricity with no emissions and only a dull hum from cooling towers - a far cry from smoky, noisy plants I've seen in the past.

Water is taken from the production well, and the brine water is separated and returned to the ground:

The hot water flows through separate pipes:

And is cooled to produce steam:

Steam from the production well runs the turbine:

The turbine powers the generator:

And the electricity is transmitted to the grid:

...and taken across the desert to provide clean and efficient electricity to utilities.

Thanks for the tour, Dan!

Seen and Heard at the Geothermal Conference

2008-10-06T14:58:00.001-04:00

"Geothermal has long been the sleeping giant of renewable energy. The giant is stirring. The time is now! This is a great time to be in the industry."

- Dan Reicher, Director for Climate Change and Energy Initiatives at Google.org, speaking to the Geothermal Opening Session audience

Reicher also unveiled "Google Clean Energy 2030," Google's energy plan officially launched last week, which he compared to plans from T. Boone Pickens and Vice President Al Gore.

DOE Announces EGS Awards Recipients at Conference Opening Session

2008-10-06T14:42:00.002-04:00

At the Conference Opening Session this morning, several high-profile speakers addressed a room filled beyond seating capacity. Among them was Steve Chalk of the Department of Energy. He expressed his appreciation of the optimism in the room despite the crisis facing America in energy and finance.

Chalk went on to announce the recipients of funding awards provided by DOE to support Enhanced Geothermal Systems development.

The official release, hot off the press:

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
Jennifer Scoggins, (202) 586-4940
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, October 6, 2008

DOE Funds 21 Research, Development and Demonstration Projects for up to $78 Million to Promote Enhanced Geothermal Systems

RENO, Nev. – Today at the National Geothermal Conference in Reno, Nev., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy Steve Chalk announced the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) awards under a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for research, development and demonstration of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) for next-generation geothermal energy technologies. Subject to annual appropriations, the Department will provide up to $43.1 million over four years to 21 awardees, including a record 13 awards to first-time recipients. With cost-share by the recipients, the public-private investments will be up to $78 million. Increasing the use of geothermal resources supports President Bush’s goals diversifying the nation’s energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen national energy security.

“Our office is proud to expand our public-private partnerships with first-time applicants and award recipients. We consider this excellent proof of the growing opportunities and interest in geothermal technology research and project development,” Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy Steve Chalk said. “With these awards, we are growing our geothermal community to include the technical expertise of our valued national laboratories, innovative industry partners and the very best of academia. This robust team will help us meet our aggressive departmental goal to prove the technical feasibility of Enhanced Geothermal Systems by 2015.”

Combined with the minimum industry cost-share of 20 percent, and subject to annual appropriations, up to $78 million is slated for public-private investment in these 21 projects over the next four years. Geographic diversity makes these projects appealing as DOE looks to expand the perception of EGS potential, new site locations may reveal new opportunities. Additionally, these partnerships with universities will encourage innovation, while the added value of our national laboratories will lend expertise to project development.

The FOA solicited applications in two topic areas: component technologies research and development, and system demonstrations. DOE announced 17 awards in research and development that will address aspects of engineered reservoir creation, management and utilization at high temperatures up to 300°C and depths as great as 10,000 meters, including 12 awards to first-time recipients. The four recipients selected under systems demonstration, including one award to a first-time recipient, will allow testing and validation of stimulation techniques for improving productivity of wells or increasing inter-well connectivity at existing geothermal fields.

A list of award recipients by topic areas follows:

Component Technologies R&D: DOE awarded $8.7 million to fund these projects for a total of up to $19.1 million over four years, subject to annual appropriations. Award recipients will contribute up to $11.2 million for a total of up to $30.3 million in public-private research and development activities.
• Baker-Hughes, Inc (Houston, Texas): to develop an ultrasonic borehole televiewer that can operate at a temperature of 300˚C and at a depth of 10,000 meters. The proposed tool will provide a means to detect fractures in the subsurface and is critical for the commercialization of EGS (up to $3,139,364)

• Colorado School of Mines, Boise State University, Flint LLC, Mt. Princeton Geothermal LLC (Golden, Colo.): to conduct a geophysical characterization of a geothermal system taking advantage of the latest developments in Self Potential Method and Seismic Interferometry (up to $867,564)

• Composite Technology with Wood Group ESP and New England Wire Technology (Lafayette, Colo.): to develop and demonstrate Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) motor coil designs that utilize proprietary inorganic insulation materials. These materials can be applied to motor coil winding conductors using conventional motor fabrication processes and provide superior electrical performance at elevated temperatures (up to $987,739)

• Foulger Consulting and U.S. Geological Survey, Geosystem with WesternGeco, US Navy, Magma Energy US Corporation, and DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Menlo Park, Calif.): to develop high-resolution micro-earthquake tools and methods suited to monitoring EGS-induced geothermal micro-earthquakes. The ultimate goal is to develop an industrial tool to obtain detailed seismic structure of geothermal areas without the need for major active-source seismic surveys (up to $561,729)

• GE Global Research with Auburn University and GE Energy (Niskayuna, N.Y.): to develop a platform of electronics technologies that can operate at 300 °C and 10 km depth enabling the measurement of temperature, flow, pressure and seismicity in an EGS reservoir (up to $1,599,934)

• Hattenburg, Dilley, and Linnell, LLC with University of Utah/Energy and Geoscience Institute (EGI) (Anchorage, Alaska): to identify open fracture systems by their Fluid Inclusion Stratigraphy (FIS) chemical signature; differences based on the mineral assemblages and geology of the system; and chemical precursors in the wall rock above open, large fractures (up to $313,858)

• Hi-Q Geophysical Inc., Ormat Technologies, Inc. and Stephen Muir with DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Ponca City, Okla.): to develop surface and borehole seismic methodologies using both compression and shear waves for characterizing fractures in EGS. Both VSP and surface multi-component acquisition geometries will be evaluated (up to $817,757)

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Chevron and DOE’s Los Alamos National Laboratory (Cambridge, Mass.): to combine detailed high-resolution analysis of microseismicity accompanying the stimulation of an EGS reservoir with a state-of-the-art geomechanical model of the reservoir to investigate the relationship between the seismicity and flow characteristics (up to $508,633)

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, New England Research with ENEL North America (Cambridge, Mass.): to combine the use of geophysical methods for reservoir and fracture characterization with a rock physics model calibrated via advanced laboratory measurements made on reservoir rocks under in situ conditions of temperature (up to 300˚C) and pressure (up to $1,019,769)

• Perma Works and Frequency Management International, ElectroChemical Systems Inc, Draka Cableteq, Pacific Process Systems Inc, Tiger Wireline Inc, Viking Engineering, Kuster Company, Electronic Workmanship Standards Inc, Eclipse NanoMed, Honeywell SSEC (Albuquerque, N.M.): to commercialize the Sandia/DOE HT SOI chipset by addressing the most troubling issues found when designing for long-term exposure to the geothermal well environments such as inter-metallic growth, printed circuit board delamination, ceramic capacitors shorting, and the lack of a safe HT battery (up to $2,200,000)

• Schlumberger (Sugar Land, Texas): to extend the internal operating range of Electrically Submersible Pump (ESP’s) to 338°C for application in both geothermal and the increasingly hotter Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) wells and to develop a heat transfer model that will adequately predict the ESP’s internal operating temperature (up to $1,245,751)

• Schlumberger (Sugar Land, Texas): to develop a downhole monitoring system to be used in wells with bottom hole temperatures up to 300˚C for measuring parameters of an Electrically Submersible Pump (ESP) and well conditions (pressure and temperature) and develop a heat transfer model for the motor that will adequately predict ESP internal operating temperature (up to $1,253,959)

• Stanford University (Stanford, Calif.): to develop wellbore tools including a downhole enthalpy meter and reservoir engineering approaches including nanotechnology, Resistivity Computer Tomography (RCT) method, and nonparametric regression for fracture characterization in both near well and interwell regions (up to $967,541)

• Texas A&M University with AltaRock, DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and University of Mississippi (College Station, Texas): to develop an improved seismicity-based reservoir characterization (SBRC) technology by combining rock mechanics, finite element modeling, geo-statistical concepts, and state-of-the-art stochastic inversion techniques to establish relationships between micro-seismicity, reservoir flow and geomechanical characteristics (up to $820,198)

• Texas A&M University with AltaRock, DOE’s Sandia National Laboratory and University of Mississippi (College Station, Texas): to develop a 3-D numerical model for simulating tensile, shear, and out-of-plane propagation of multiple fractures and fracture clusters to accurately predict geothermal reservoir stimulation using the novel approach of Virtual Multi-dimensional Internal Bond (VMIB) (up to $690,953)

• University of Utah (Salt Lake City, Utah): Demonstrate absorbing tracers, measure near-well fracture surface area via tracer modeling, and develop a tool that measures fluid flow via tracers. (up to $1,091,039)

• University of Utah (Salt Lake City, Utah): to investigate the effect of proppants on fracture stability and their interactions with injected fluids at geothermal temperatures in environments that simulate stresses within the reservoir. The use of proppants to both maintain open fractures, as well as their potential to divert fluids from fracture pathways detrimental to long term sustainability (e.g. fast paths), will be assessed (up to $978,180)

System Demonstrations: DOE awarded $3.7 million to fund these projects, for a total of up to approximately $24 million over four years, subject to annual appropriations. Industry alone will contribute an additional $23.7 million, an almost 50 percent cost-share. This total of up to $47.7 million shows tremendous cooperative effort in EGS development. The success of these projects could result in over 400 MWe in new grid capacity within the next five years.

• AltaRock Energy Inc. and Northern California Power Agency, University of Utah, Texas A&M University, Science Applications International Corporation, Temple University (Seattle, WA): to use an innovative stimulation process to create an EGS reservoir that will drill below the permeable zone, stimulate in the contained zone with infrastructure in place, and increase power production (up to $6,014,351)

• Geysers Power Co., LLC and DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Middletown, Calif.): to deepen wells into a high temperature zone and thermally stimulate with cold water to increase power production (up to $5,697,700)

• ORMAT Nevada, Inc. and GeothermEx, DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Utah, Pinnacle Technologies, GeoMechanics International, University of Nevada - Reno, TerraTek/Schlumberger (Reno, Nev.): to stimulate multiple wells at Brady Field to access existing fracture system (up to $3,374,430)

• University of Utah and U.S. Geothermal, APEX Petroleum Engineering Services, HiPoint Reservoir Imaging, Chevron (Salt Lake City, Utah): To perform a monitored hydraulic stimulation of an existing injection well at Raft River (Selected for negotiation of award in FY09) (up to $8,928,999)

DOE's geothermal technologies program works in partnership with U.S. industry to establish geothermal energy as an economically competitive contributor to the U.S. energy supply. Learn more information about these awards on the Geothermal Technologies Program website.

-DOE-

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Glitnir Bank Releases U.S. Geothermal Energy Market Report

2008-10-06T12:05:00.001-04:00

This morning Glitnir Bank (based in Iceland) released a new U.S. Geothermal Energy Market Report. I got a chance to sit down with Alex Richter, pictured at left, Director of Sustainable Energy for Glitnir and geothermal analyst. We looked through the report, noting the drastic spikes in production that have taken place over the last year. Richter's analysis includes several easy-to-read charts that compare data taken from GEA's own August 2008 Update on U.S. Geothermal Power Production and Development against the Western Governors' Association market predictions from 2006 and the USGS September 2008 geothermal report.

From Glitnir's Web site:

It is our pleasure to present our second annual U.S. Geothermal Energy Market Report. The overall development of geothermal energy is very positive in the US. The installed geothermal power generation capacity has increased by 4% to 2,958 MW. The overall number of projects has increased and projects currently underway would expand installed capacity in the U.S. by a 100-130% in the years to come.

Compared to last year the industry is better positioned and availability of drilling rigs has improved. The joint efforts of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forestry Service to speed up the process for leasing geothermal resources on lands they manage will also have a significant impact on the industry.

Recent lease auctions by the BLM have shown the increasing interest in geothermal development and in developers' confidence in the sector. On August 5, 2008 the BLM auctioned 35 parcels over leases on 105,312 acres for a total sales price of USD 28 million which is up from last year's record of USD 12 million for 122,850 acres. This should increase the geothermal project pipeline in the U.S. even further.

Increased renewable energy portfolio standards on state level play a positive role, as is the fact that both campaigns for the 2009 U.S. presidential elections are now including "geothermal energy" when discussing renewable energy and energy security.

The availability of financing will have an impact how quickly current projects will be developed. In the near-term financing cost are set to increase, impacting owners anticipated return. Overall, the outlook is positive and the geothermal energy industry should enjoy continuous growth in the years to come.

We are proud to be a member of this exciting industry and take part in the development in the United States. More information on our activities in the sector and our Global Geothermal Energy Team can be found on our website at www.glitnirusa.com/energy.

Main findings

The overall outlook for geothermal energy development in the United States has improved greatly with now more projects under way than ever. In short these are the key developments in the U.S.:

Overall installed capacity has grown from 2,851 MW to 2,958 MW, or about 4%.
California represents 86% or 2,555 MW of overall installed geothermal power generation capacity in the U.S. followed by Nevada with 11% or 318 MW.
There are now 7 states generating electricity with geothermal energy. Idaho and New Mexico have joined the pool of geothermal power generation states, with Oregon and Wyoming to follow shortly.
The number of projects currently in development in the U.S. has increased by 40%, from 69 projects to 97 projects today, (103 with unconfirmed projects).
Geothermal projects in development represent a maximum capacity of 3,950 MW or an increase of 54% to last year.
The State with the most number of projects remains Nevada with now 42 projects, followed by California with 20 and Oregon with 11 projects.
The state with most of the geothermal power generation capacity in development is Nevada with 1,100-1,900 MW, followed by California with 900-1,020 MW.
Current projects under way require investments of 14-16 billion USD, with more than half of that amount needed in 2011 and 2012.

Expo Hall Opening Reception - a photographic tour

2008-10-06T10:37:00.002-04:00

Events in Reno have been underway with Workshops, field trips to geothermal sites through the Geothermal Resources Council, and a frenzy of exhibition setup in the Expo Hall, but the official kick-off was Sunday evening at a beautiful reception sponsored by Ormat. Exhibitors showed off their booths while we heard a few words of welcome and enjoyed a delicious meal.

Lucien Bronicki, founder of Ormat, welcomes attendees.

The spread:

Exhibitors and attendees enjoy the meal and ambiance while discussing geothermal energy opportunities.

The Expo Hall looks beautiful! We're off to a great start!

BLM Announces Geothermal Lease Sale - Utah, Dec. 16

2008-10-05T20:58:00.003-04:00

Another highlight at yesterday's Geothermal Issues and Outlook Workshop was the Bureau of Land Management's announcement of a December 16 lease sale to be held through their Utah office.

Forms for nominations can be found on the BLM Utah Web site and the official posting will be available on October 31. 55 parcels will be offered, including 15-16 in Oregon and 6 in Idaho. There will be a total of 260,000 acres available.

The most recent geothermal lease sale was held in Nevada in July 2008.

Geothermal Issues and Outlook Workshop

2008-10-05T16:56:00.002-04:00

Saturday's Geothermal Issues and Outlook Workshop saw a successful discussion of current topics in the industry. Nearly 100 participants and attendees were there - thanks to everyone, especially for coming out on a Saturday!

Workshop discussion topics included transmission, tax incentives, climate change, RPS initiatives, resource assessment and research, and leasing/permitting. I was in and out while attending to other aspects of the workshop and conference as well, but was able to get a lot out of the remarks from presenters.

The discussion about tax incentives of course revolved much around the extensions that were passed just the day before. But one thing that was brought up was whether or not these extensions are effective - Although a definite victory for the industry, it's unpredictable what will happen after the next expiration date comes up in two years.

"The need for long-term investment certainty is one of the key challenges facing the geothermal industry today. With the need for longer planning and construction, the industry must either obtain a long-term production tax credit or else look to create other tools and financial incentives to create a long-term steady demand for this resource," said Jonathan Weisgall from MidAmerican Energy.

State and federal RPS initiatives' purpose was stated in a fact sheet prepared by AWEA that was included with the Workshop: "The RPS provides a predictable, competitive market, within which renewable generators will compete with each other to lower prices."

"Texas leaders appear prepared to adopt a non-wind renewable energy portfolio standard. The PUC is evaluating a new rule to implement a 500 MW standard now, and the legislature will consider expanding this when it meets in January. Good Company Associates is organizing an industry coalition to help assure these opportunities are not missed." said Bob King of Good Company Associates.

The AWEA fact sheet shows which states currently specifically include geothermal electric or heat pumps: Colorado, Hawai'i, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

One thing that was really stressed about resource assessment and research was that communication information sharing is key. I enjoyed comments from Allan Jelacic from the DOE. The DOE is putting out FOAs (funding opportunity announcement) including one for an information-sharing database and another for EGS (enhanced geothermal systems) technologies.

Jelacic said that while EGS is definitely a focus right now, there shouldn't be reference to the "EGS capacity potential." "The term is geothermal potential," he said, and added that the exciting technologies that are being developed are still under the umbrella of basic reliable geothermal energy - the only renewable with baseload capacity.

Many thanks to all who participated as speakers and as attendees!

Two-Year Extention on Geothermal Tax Credits

2008-10-04T11:34:00.001-04:00

On Saturday morning, the geothermal community - gathered in Reno to kick off two workshops, the GEA Geothermal Issues and Outlook Workshop and the GRC Introduction to Geothermal Energy Workshop - was abuzz with the news that yesterday the House extended renewable energy tax credits in a 263-171 vote as part of HR 1424, the $700 billion bailout bill. President George W. Bush signed the bill into law. The Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 extends production tax credits for geothermal power plants for another two years. There is also a 10% credit for geothermal heat pumps.

Project delays? Layoffs? It seems these threats are past, and that the next administration will push security for renewables even more. Geothermal development companies plan to heighten output over the next couple years, so we should see a surge of new plants go on-line.

Introducing the 2008 Geothermal Conference and Expo

2008-10-01T19:12:00.000-04:00

Every year, the Geothermal Energy Conference and Expo (formerly GEA Trade Show and GRC Annual Meeting) host a wide range of companies from all facets of the geothermal community. GEA's expo is held in cooperation with the annual meetings and technical sessions of the Geothermal Resources Council. This year's conference and expo, to be held at the Peppermill hotel and casino in Reno, Nevada, October 5-8, has already broken preregistration records and is sure to be the largest international geothermal conference ever held. This blog will provide on-site updates for those who are unable to attend.

The Conference and Expo officially begin on Monday, October 6. But before the main events start, there will be a number of workshops open to the public. On Saturday, October 4, GEA is hosting a "Geothermal Issues and Outlook Workshop." The day-long event features expert presentations and panel discussions examining federal and state policy initiatives - from tax vredits to federal and state leasing - and their potential impact on geothermal energy. Visit GEA's Web site for more information, a draft agenda, and registration for the workshop.

Also on Saturday, GRC will sponsor an "Introduction to Geothermal Energy" workshop, presented by the Geothermal Education Office. This free and fun event will take place at the Peppermill Resort in Reno from 10am-1pm. Sign-in begins at 9:30am. The workshop is designed for K-12 classroom teachers and other educators, but is open to anyone interested in learning about geothermal energy. Preregistration is required, so please email geo@marin.org in advance to participate or download the registration form.

Starting Monday, October 6, the Geothermal Energy Conference and Expo begin in full force. Speakers for the Opening Session on Monday include Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons, Dan Reicher, Director of Climate and Energy Initiatives at Google.org, Barry Andrews, President of Chevron Geothermal, and Yoram Bronicki, President of Ormat. Visit GRC's Web site for more information about their agenda and events.

At noon on Monday, the GEA Expo opens, featuring nearly 100 exhibits from companies ranging from Glitnir Bank to Vulcan Power. Regular events and speakers are scheduled for the Expo Hall from Monday through noon on Wednesday. Admission to the Expo is only $35/day. Links to exhibitors' Web sites are available on the side bar. For more information, visit the Trade Show link on GEA's Web site.

About the Geothermal Energy Association

2008-09-30T16:35:00.001-04:00

The Geothermal Energy Association, composed of companies that support the development of geothermal resources, is the industry's trade association in Washington. GEA's members have offices and operations in many states and throughout the world. GEA works to support the production of energy through facilitating a network around geothermal power plants and by expanding the public knowledge of this renewable, sustainable energy source.

GEA's activities include a weekly newsletter, various specialized reports, putting on workshops and participating in conferences, providing a voice for growing requests from press, and providing a forum for discussion within the industry. GEA's collective data is available free of charge at www.geo-energy.org.