Nevada Leads Nation in Development of Geothermal Generation Capacity

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--As the nation's appetite for renewable energy grows, efforts are in high gear to increase electricity from geothermal sources. There are 215 geothermal generating units operating in the country with a total capacity of 3,138 megawatts (MW). Roughly 87% of operational geothermal generating capacity comes from California, where there are 148 units with a combined capacity of 2,754 MW.

Click on the image at right to see a breakdown of geothermal power generation capacity additions in the U.S.

Although California will continue to lead the nation in operational capacity from geothermal power plants, Nevada is becoming a prime location for development. Nevada currently leads the nation in geothermal capacity in terms of development and total investment dollars for new geothermal power plants.

Recently, Enel North America Incorporated, a subsidiary of Enel S.p.A. (BIT:ENEL) (Rome, Italy), began construction on two plants near Fallon, Nevada. Last fall, the company awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to Mafi-Trench Company LLC (Santa Maria, California), a subsidiary of Atlas Copco AB (STO:ATCO A) (Nacka, Sweden), for six turboexpander generators. Two of the units are expected to be installed at Enel's 20-MW Salt Wells plant, and the other four are scheduled for installation at the 73-MW Stillwater site. Enel has selected The Industrial Company (Steamboat Springs, Colorado) as the general contractor for both projects. Commercial operation at both sites is expected to begin by late 2008.

In advanced development, Nevada Geothermal Power Incorporated (OTC:NGLPF) (Vancouver, British Columbia) is moving forward with the 49-MW Blue Mountain Geothermal Power Plant near Winnemucca, Nevada. Construction is expected to begin this year with commercial operation targeted for late 2009. In addition to Blue Mountain, the company has three other geothermal projects in development in Nevada and Oregon. These projects represent 145 MW and $350 million in capital spending.

Apart from projects owned by Enel and Nevada Geothermal, 10 other geothermal power projects representing $895 million are under development in the state. If all of the projects are built, they could supply 482 MW of renewable energy to the grid.

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