Utah startup hits geothermal jackpot

Associated Press ^ | Dec. 24, 2008 | Paul Foy

[decimon]

PROVO — Within six months of discovering a massive geothermal field, a small Utah company had erected and fired up a power plant — just one example of the speed with which companies are capitalizing on state mandates for alternative energy.

[decimon]

Six months.

[BipolarBob]

Wait until the SO2 and CO2 start leaking out of the wells.

[nothingnew]

Raser's find, about 155 miles southwest of Provo, could eventually power 200,000 homes. The company said it will begin routing electricity to Anaheim, Calif. within weeks.

Huh. Of course Kalifornia gets it first. Huh.

FMCDH(BITS)

[Ron Jeremy]

Just wait till the liberals realize we are taking all the heat out of the earth.

[decimon]

Of course Kalifornia gets it first. Huh.

If I have it right, that's because it's California mandating its power come from renewable energy sources. That could be a boon for Utah, Nevada and maybe other states.

[decimon]

Just wait till the liberals realize we are taking all the heat out of the earth.

Start practicing your mantra of "Renewable", "Renewable."

[lewislynn]

Huh. Of course Kalifornia gets it first. Huh.

HUH what?

Apparently they want to take it wihout prejudice to where there's a demand and money to be made. Much to your dismay I'm pretty sure we still use US currency in California.

[Robert A Cook PE]

If I have it right, that’s because it’s California mandating its power come from renewable energy sources. That could be a boon for Utah, Nevada and maybe other states.

Yes, but remember, EVERY Kilowatt of “mandated” or “alternative energy” fuels that is bought is MORE expensive, less reliable, and requires more infrastructure (and wastes more time, money and materials to build than conventional fuels.

Because every Kilowatt of “renewable” fuels requires a conventionally-powered turbine backing it up. While earning no money - until its needed.

Then the “backup rates” need to pay for everything.

[FormerLib]

Probably because no one else is stupid enough to pay the rates they’ll charge per Kilowatt.

I hope the cost is high enough to make Ahnuld cry.

[pointsal]

Better good check out the hot water in Susanville, California....

[xcamel]

FReepmail me to get on or off

Click on POGW graphic for full GW rundown

GREENIE WATCH

Ping me if you find one I've missed.

---

This ought to be good...

[decimon]

Yes, but remember, EVERY Kilowatt of “mandated” or “alternative energy” fuels that is bought is MORE expensive, less reliable, and requires more infrastructure (and wastes more time, money and materials to build than conventional fuels.

Because every Kilowatt of “renewable” fuels requires a conventionally-powered turbine backing it up. While earning no money - until its needed.

Is that true of geothermal power plants? With solar or wind I would see that but I'd think geothermal to be constant.

And I'm not sure about the cost. That they can build plants so quickly bodes well for this, I would think.

[Gondring]

Just wait till the liberals realize we are taking all the heat out of the earth.

Oh, it's better than that!

Just wait til they find that the geothermal heat is generated by radioactive decay!!!

[Gondring]

Actually, once the infrastructure is built, these can more than make up for the capital costs. The requirement makes that capital investment possible, though.

And not all alternative power requires 100% backup.

But even geothermal isn't limitless. Just like a groundwater well can deplete an aquifer, so can geothermal exploitation stress or deplete a heat aquifer.

[Omglol]

discovered????? lol, there is a massive thinning of the earth’s crust in that region... science idiots

[Robert A Cook PE]

Geothermal is considered more reliable than solar (only potentially available 6 hours per day, and only at rated power for 4 hours per day) or wind (considered exceptionally good IF they can get power from a turbine 25% of the time - usually about 20% of the time produced usable power from a windmill).

But, geothermal has long been handicapped by very, very noxious emissions and leaks of (deadly, smelly, toxic, polluting) underground gasses into the air. The “water” that gets pumped down under high pressure is notorious for dissolving the sulfurs, acids, and pollutants in the rock.

These erode, corrode, and plug up the steam and hot water pipes - so the plant has to go down to replace the pipes and heat exchangers and turbine blades - which run very poorly when turning in a hot, metal-eating acid bath every minute or everyday.

Hopefully - this plant will prove a success. But few have been - though some are successfully kept up, but the source of heat runs down and the plant has to close to let the rock heat up again.

[Gondring]

Because every Kilowatt of “renewable” fuels requires a conventionally-powered turbine backing it up.

Also note that many inefficient old powerplants can be retained as backup...it doesn't mean new construction is needed, nor that they would be otherwise running (without the alternative, new powerplants would be needed, rather than keeping old inefficient ones as backup).

Plus, like you point out, turbine generators can be easily fired up for peak use.

[decimon]

Any insight into “low-boil geothermal?” Sounds like they can now generate power from sites heretofore deemed too...tepid.

[Gondring]

Not to mention tectonic disturbances.

[Red Boots]

Wait until the SO2 and CO2 start leaking out of the wells.

There is a CO2 geyser near Green River Ut,that erupts a column of CO2 periodically. It was an oil well that went bad. Now a tourist attraction.