All Entries in the "Policy & Policymakers" Category
BLM again mulling (new) Colorado GT leases while interest grows to the south
In Colorado, and in the wake of a postponed geothermal lease sale in Chaffee County, the Bureau of Land Management is considering two areas totaling about 9,000 acres proposed for leasing for GT development to the west in southeastern Gunnison County. The agency is gathering public comment as it begins an environmental analysis of the [...]
Legislator seeks 30% RES for Colorado
In Colorado, State Rep. Max Tyler has introduced House Bill 1001 intended to increase Colorado’s renewable energy standard by 50%, requiring large utility companies to generate 30% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. The bill would also provide incentives to develop community-scale wind, geothermal and small hydro-electric power in addition to solar power. [...]
BLM auctions 17 Utah, four Idaho geothermal parcels
In Utah, the Bureau of Land Management Utah held a geothermal lease sale at the BLM Utah State Office in Salt Lake City in the ever increasing effort to open up more land to geothermal development. Included in the sale were 17 parcels in Utah and ten parcels in Idaho. The BLM sold all 17 [...]
Senators promote renewables while DOE helps nuclear make a comeback
In Washington, two senators have circulated draft legislation that would promote low-carbon energy from renewable sources and nuclear plants. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) called for a national renewable electricity standard that would require utilities to obtain an ever-increasing percentage of their power from sustainable sources, including geothermal. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) has released a “discussion draft” that [...]
Resolution seeks definition clarification for federal stimulus funding
In California, a resolution introduced to the state Assembly asks that exploratory drilling be separated from construction in order to ensure that geothermal testing will not disqualify power plants from receiving money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The resolution asks the federal government to clarify the definition of exploring to include exploratory drilling. [...]
2011 energy budget adds $55 M to GT investments
In Washington, the release of the fiscal year 2011 budget request aims to continue to modernize the country’s energy infrastructure with additional investments in a number of renewable sources and includes $55 million for geothermal. However, other than water – which is to receive $41 M, other renewables continue to draw more attention. The [...]
BLM pulls plug on Colorado lease sale
In Colorado, the Bureau of Land Management has withdrawn the first geothermal lease offering in the state due to concerns articulated by local residents. BLM Front Range District manager Greg Shoop was quoted as saying “We received several substantive comments in writing after our Jan. 14 public-information meeting in Buena Vista that caused us to [...]
Streamlined GT permitting process would take two years off development
In Oregon, hidden in a piece about a regional tour taken a local congressman came the news that he and other lawmakers had introduced legislation to streamline the permitting process for geothermal projects situated on public lands. While visiting the Second District in the state, U.S. Rep. Greg Walden was quoted as saying “We need [...]
Canadian GEA releases public reporting code
In Canada, the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) released the Canadian Geothermal Code for Public Reporting. The code provides a minimum set of requirements for the public reporting of exploration results, geothermal resources and geothermal reserves. CanGEA said the code would provide a basis for transparency, consistency and confidence in the public reporting of geothermal [...]
Colorado GT lease meeting likely the first of many more
In Colorado, the Bureau of Land Management held a geothermal lease-sale meeting last week in the Buena Vista. Greg Shoupe, the BLM’s Front Range district manager, re-iterated that the meeting was to provide information, not accept public comment. The agency’s national geothermal program manager Kermit Witherbee said that heat is classified as a mineral resource [...]
