WASHINGTON -- Geothermal projects in Nevada received about one-third of the $338 million in grants under the economy recovery package, including projects in Gabbs, in northwestern Nye County, and in Silver Peak, Alum and Fish Lake Valley in Esmeralda County.
U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced the Silver State will receive more than $90 million for 25 projects expected to make geothermal power more readily available and create nearly 1,100 jobs.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, during a press conference with Reid, said the investment is expected to more than triple Nevada's geothermal capacity in the next five years.
"Geothermal industry has enormous potential to power our economy. It's renewable energy and its base load energy so it can be counted on day in and day out," Chu said.
Nevada is second to California in U.S. geothermal resources, with 15 geothermal power plants in operation with a capacity of 264 megawatts. But a profile by the U.S. Department of Energy notes a vast amount of the state's geothermal energy potential remains untapped.
"Geothermal resources of moderate-to-low temperatures are becoming increasingly viable sources for electricity generation due to innovations in geothermal power plant technologies. Nevada and the surrounding region have the potential to become one of the most productive resources areas for geothermal energy utilization," the DOE profile said.
"Once this is done we're going to have 60 power plants producing more electricity than Hoover Dam," Reid said.
Most of the geothermal energy is being harnessed in Churchill and Pershing counties, just east of Reno. Several grants were awarded for projects in that area in Dixie Valley, New York Canyon, Rye Patch, Pyramid Lake and Beowawe.
But some projects will get under way farther south.
Read more: http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2009/Nov-13-Fri-2009/news/32378165.html
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