Proposed Geothermal Project near Junco Road

[theCryptofishist]

Unfortunately, I could not find this on the web, so here's some portion of the hard copy notice typed in by my own fingers.

Nov 3, 2006
Dear Interested Public
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Winnemucca Feild Office (WFO) is seeking public input as it initiates the environmental analysis process for Nevada Geothermal Power Company's (NG) proposed overhead power transmission line, geothermal plant and associated infrastructure.
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The proposed power transmission line would transport electicicy approximately 20 miles from the proposed geothermal power pland on the west side of Bule Mountain to a point just north of Mill City, in Pershing County, where the transmission line would connect an existing 120kV powerline
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NG's proposed geothermal power plant would be located on private land west of Blue Mountain...approximately 20 miles west of Winnemucca and north of Jungo Road.
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As the power plant, associated infrastructure and power transmission line are inherent to each other, the BLM WFO will analyze the expected environmental impacts of implementing these actions as one project.
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The BLM is seeking public comments for this proposal to identify issues and concerns until January 5, 2007.

SEnd comments to Mrs. Barbara Kehrberg, Bureau of Land Management, Winnemucca Field Office, 5100 East Winnemucca Boulevard, Winnemucca, NV 89445-2921. Refer to 2800/3200/1792, N-82701. A public scoping meeting is tentatively schedule for November 29 at the Winnemucca field office. (775) 623-1500 or [email protected]

My guess is that with the plant itself, we may only be talking an EA. I"m wondering if it will mean an upgrade to the Junco Road. Also, supporting this may mean that the electricity will take up transmission line space that might otherwise be taken up by the coal power plant. (That's a guess, the whole thing is a little over my head, I'm just trying to anticipate.) IF someone wants to contact metric and let him know this came up and what he thinks about it, go ahead.

[metric]

This is 75 miles from Gerlach near Winnemucca-- the power lines would run from the power plant to existing power lines, which I believe are owned by Sierra Pacific. This project will not use the power lines that the coal plant planned to tap into, and the power is to be sold to Nevada customers.

I'm in favor of the project, since geothermal is an indigenous power source and much cleaner than a coal combustion plant. I'm not clear on all the potential impacts to that area, but since it is near a few mining operations, I would think the impacts pale in comparison.

[geekster]

Geothermal impacts are going to depend on the nature of the system and the local geology. Impacts in Northen California have been increases in earthquake activity and depletion of the heat source. It turns out that it was really easy to pull heat out of the thermal field faster than it could be replaced. The Geyers thermal field was just barely limping along and has been considered for closing because the maintenance expense isn't worth the reduced energy production. Corrosion has also been an issue with more maintenance being required than was originally planned for.

At The Geysers, they have gone from a "base load" (24x7) operation to a "load following" operation. In other words, the geothermal plant is now operated as a "peaker plant" used when load is highest and shut off when demand is low. Also, in places where the problem has been inability of water to replace the steam (the wells drying out but still with plenty of heat) they have gone to a water injection method where water is injected into the hot rock to keep the steam pressure up. This has extended the usefulness of the field.

Another problem they had was with sulphur, they fixed it somehow but I can't remember how. At first they had to treat the sulphur as hasardous waste because it was contaminated with mercury or some other heavy metal. So a lot depends on what's down there besides water, how much water is down there, how quickly the water can be replaced, and how quickly heat can be replaced.