Three GT companies split $24.4 M in DOE grant money for western projects

In Nevada, five geothermal projects earned DOE support to the tune of $22.6 M in grants. Recovery Act funding went to: Nevada Geothermal Power, $1.6 M for the Black Warrior project; Magma Energy Corp., $10 M for its Soda Lake and McCoy sites; and Sierra Geothermal Power Corp., $10 M for its Silver Peak and Alum projects. Magma said it would use the funds to At Soda Lake, Magma will “apply new oil and gas technology” to find GT resources at Soda Lake and “validate a combination of innovative exploration technologies” to look for a large reservoir at Alum. Sierra said the grants would bring them closer to the goal of becoming an independent producer of GT power by 2012. Another $1.8 M grant was won by Nevada Geothermal for its Crump Geyser project just north in Oregon.