Geothermal Digest » Policy & Policymakers

New energy legislation on the table, but passage soon is unlikely

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:05:16 +0000

In Washington, Congress is in now at work on clean energy bills ahead of the summer recess. Midwest Senators put a national renewable energy standard on the table with the introduction of a bill seeking a 25% renewable energy target by 2025. Senate Majority leader Harry Reid has put forward two clean energy bills of his own, including the Geothermal Exploration Act, which proposes a Department of Energy fund to provide loans to geothermal energy developers for “high risk” exploration and drilling. However, Senator Reid has since said he does not have enough support to move a renewable electricity production mandate promoting sources like solar and geothermal before the break.

High temp GT tools to benefit from new DOE funding

admin — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 15:55:12 +0000

In Washington, DC, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced $30 million in funding from the Recovery Act and FY 2010 budget appropriations that will be made available to qualified small businesses to support the commercialization of promising new technologies. The funding announcement marks the first time the DOE has made Phase III awards under small business programs. On the geothermal side, the loans are targeting developments in High Temperature Tools and Sensors, including High Temperature Downhole Tools, High-Temperature-High-Volume Lifting, and High Temperature Downhole MWD Tools for Directional Drilling. Applications are currently being accepted.

DOE proffers funding opportunity for low-temp and co-produced GT

admin — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 22:58:02 +0000

In Washington, the Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Program has opened a new funding opportunity in geothermal energy production at low temperatures. Low-temperature geothermal energy is defined as heat obtained from the geothermal fluid in the ground at temperatures of 300°F (150°C) or less. These resources are typically used in direct-use applications, such as district heating, greenhouses, fisheries, mineral recovery, and industrial process heating. However, some low-temperature resources can be harnessed to generate electricity using binary cycle electricity generating technology. Applications are due by July 9.

Congressman wants 30% GT tax credit in Oregon

admin — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 21:10:29 +0000

In Oregon, Democratic congressman Earl Blumenauer introduced a bill, H.R. 5612, that would give a 30% tax credit for investments in geothermal energy projects. Oregon ranked third in total U.S. geothermal capacity under development in 2009, with 13 projects at various stages of development that together could yield 370 MW, according to a January report by the Geothermal Energy Association. That’s roughly enough to power 370,000 homes.

N.C. moves towards renewable-energy bill passage

admin — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 22:45:05 +0000

In North Carolina, a bill to create a 25% tax credit for the construction of facilities used to manufacture renewable energy has cleared the House. It now heads to the state Senate’s finance committee. The credit applies to the construction of a variety of renewable-energy projects, including biomass, hydro-generation, solar, wind and geothermal heat pumps. As the bill reads currently, the credit would be taken against state income or business franchise taxes.

Alaska Gov cuts energy project funds by half

admin — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:25:02 +0000

In Alaska, Gov. Sean Parnell cut $25 million of a $50 million appropriation to the state’s renewable energy grant program. The reductions include taking $1.25 million form a $2 million appropriation for Naknek Electric Association’s geothermal project. Other cuts: nearly all of the $16.7 million intended for the Whitman Lake hydro project near Ketchikan to $1 million; $9 million from the expansion of Sitka’s Blue Lake hydro project, now down to $6 million; and the elimination of $7 million for Homer Electric Association that would have funded a wind project near Nikiski. The bill Parnell signed on June 2 that reduced the royalty derived from geothermal leases on state land remains in force.

Geothermal survey adds depth with another state agency

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:20:17 +0000

In Missouri, the state’s Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Geology and Land Survey has said it will receive about $300,000 from the DOE during the next three years to take part in the agency’s development of a comprehensive nationwide geothermal resource data system. The Missouri agency will compile location information for water wells, oil and gas wells, ground source heat pumps, rock core and cuttings. Temperature data will be collected from oil and gas production, existing deep municipal water wells, and wells currently under construction. This information will be combined with existing geologic data to compile a statewide temperature gradient map that will be available in digital format.

DOD spells out military alternative energy, climate change approaches

admin — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 19:11:04 +0000

In Washington, D.C., Dorothy Robyn, deputy undersecretary of defense for installations and environment, testified before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee about how the Pentagon sees the California Desert Protection Act of 2010. Her testimony shows that the DOD is on board with efforts that reduce the country’s – and the military’s – reliance on fossil fuels. Pentagon research has determined that the military’s heavy reliance on oil and fossil fuels comes with risks to its tactical and strategic agenda, Robyn said. Citing examples, she noted that the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, CA., has been operating a 270-megawatt geothermal plant since 1987 and added that the Navy is working with the Army to tap into geothermal resources as well.

DOE aims to speed ideas to the market

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 19:54:13 +0000

In Washington DC, the Department of Energy has announced a funding opportunity that is designed to accelerate the movement of innovative energy technologies from university laboratories into the market. America’s research institutions have been invaluable in generating new ideas, but bridging the gap between the lab and the entrepreneur needed to rapidly move technology into the marketplace remains problematic. The Funding Opportunity Announcement is titled Innovation Ecosystem Development Initiative. The $2.1 million program is looking for applications proposing approaches to accelerate the commercialization of clean energy technologies developed at universities. Applications should propose a strategy to foster an entrepreneurial environment, provide a description of the proposed innovation ecosystem, and describe a specific implementation plan. Follow the links for application information.

Town officials show support for geothermal study

admin — Sun, 23 May 2010 20:33:27 +0000

In Colorado, Poncha Springs Trustees agreed to write a letter of support for a proposed Salida geothermal study in Poncha Springs. Salida is looking for a Governor’s Energy Office grant to research geothermal potential at Poncha Hot Springs, which is owned by Salida. The company had asked the town to write the letter backing the grant, which has an application deadline of May 23. The town’s administrator Jerry L’Estrange was quoted as saying, “I think anything that benefits geothermal exploration in our area could be beneficial.”