Thread: CA. First new Salton Sea geothermal plant in 20 years starts its engines

ENERGY: First new Salton Sea geothermal plant in 20 years starts its engines

5/16/2012 • By ERIC WOLFF ewolff@nctimes.com

The first new geothermal electric generator in 20 years in the Salton Sea field, one of the largest and highest geothermal resources in North America, started operation in March, the plant's owner said.

The $400 million new plant, called Hudson Ranch I, will provide 49.9 megawatts of renewable electricity to the Salt River Project, a utility serving parts of Arizona, including Phoenix. The plant, in Calipatra, will serve 50,000 homes. EnergySource, based in El Centro, built the plant.

"Geothermal generates a lot of jobs," said EnergySource CEO Dave Watson. "We have 33 people operating this plant ---- highly skilled operating technicians. That's a pretty good impact in Imperial County."

Geothermal plants like this one drill deep into the earth and draw superheated water up. It uses that water to boil another water tank at the surface, which turns steam turbines. The Salton Sea field is a rich area for geothermal, thanks to its closeness to a fault, but the water it can pull up is laden with salt and minerals that corrode equipment, making construction expensive.

To get the plant built, the company assembled a team of local experts and pulled together investors willing to take on the risk, Watson said. It started the project in 2006, when few companies were willing to gamble.

Salt River Project preferred to contract for geothermal because it provides renewable power all the time, as opposed to solar and wind, which stop generating when the weather is wrong. That consistency will allow Salt River Project to get rid of contracts to coal-burning power plants, Watson said.

The company has already begun test drilling for a second plant of similar capacity that will also provide power to Salt River Project, Watson said.

The plant is running now, but there will be a grand opening Friday featuring a visit from California Gov. Jerry Brown.

ENERGY: First new Salton Sea geothermal plant in 20 years starts its engines : North County Times - Californian

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