•  Karl Gawell, Executive Director, Geothermal Energy Association  Presentation

•  Matthew Brown, Energy Program Director, National Conference of State Legislatures  Presentation

•  Roger Hill, Technical Director for GeoPowering the West (GPW), Sandia National Laboratory,              Albuquerque , New Mexico  Presentation

•  Charlene Wardlow, Manager of Development Permitting, Calpine Corporation, Middletown, California  Presentation

These next few years will provide crucial building blocks for geothermal development due in part to the fact that developers, government agencies, utilities, financiers and the general public are beginning to understand the multi-faceted benefits of geothermal energy.  Across the United States , state laws creating renewable portfolio standards (RPS), coupled with the expansion of the federal production tax credit (PTC) to include geothermal energy and pending changes in the Geothermal Steam Act, have prompted widespread interest in geothermal energy.  The US Department of Energy (DOE), in addition to supporting continued advances in geothermal technology, is catalyzing new growth through its GPW initiative.  GPW recently awarded special project grants to 14 states interested in geothermal development.  For example, Alaska will have its first geothermal power project come online at the Chena Hot Springs Resort where the direct use of geothermal energy will be complemented by on-site geothermal electricity generation.  Meanwhile, Arizona has added geothermal to its RPS and is set to develop the Clifton Geothermal Project near Flagstaff in the next few years.  Idaho will see its first geothermal power project, the Raft River project, come online in 2005 which will demonstrate new higher-efficiency power generation technology.   With aid from the GPW program, Nevada ’s RPS will bring 200 or more megawatts of geothermal power online, doubling the geothermal generation in the state. 

Those states with ongoing geothermal development have profited from their endeavors.  New Mexico has utilized direct use applications of geothermal energy that have significantly increased fish production and sales and have provided economic opportunities, particular in the state’s rural communities.  Geothermal energy is California ’s largest non-hydro renewable power source, supplying 6% of the state's electricity.  By setting aggressive RPS goals for expanded renewable power production, California ’s expectations are that geothermal production will at least double in the next decade with 2000 MW or more of new geothermal power plants producing power.  Oregon is in a position to see the fastest geothermal growth in the coming years with meetings in place between geothermal stakeholders and the Bonneville Power Administration.  In addition, states like Hawaii , Washington , Colorado , Montana , Texas and Wyoming also are anxious to explore the potential of geothermal power.

The briefing is open to the public and no reservations are required.  Please feel free to forward this notice.  For more information, please contact Theresa Murzyn at 202/662-1884 or tmurzyn@eesi.org.