Geothermal gets east of the Rockies

In Louisiana, $5 million in Recovery Act funding will go to Louisiana Geothermal in Lake Charles to begin construction of a geothermal power plant in early 2011. The area in Cameron Parish has been known to offer a good potential for geothermal energy production since the 1980s. Hot brine water is thought to exist 16,000 feet below the surface and getting to it will cost upwards of $30 million. The remainder will come from private investors and from an original investment from Louisiana Tank, Jordan Oil and Central Crude of Lake Charles.