Harry Reid: bringing jobs and a 21st century economy to Nevada
Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 15:22 Just in case you weren’t sure what Harry Reid is doing for Nevada, here’s the list … just out today, detailing the $90 million in geothermal energy dollars and more than 1,100 jobs coming to Nevada. That’s almost one third of the $338 million in grants from the Economic Recovery Package … one that Reid’s opponents like Sad Sue Lowden probably would have voted against, if her blog is any indication.
That $90 million will go toward about 25 projects here in the Silver State, and I can tell you first hand that it’s putting folks to work now … even where I’m employed. I work for an environmental sciences consulting firm that does the environmental regulatory work for projects of just this sort.
These are recession proof, out sourcing proof, well paying jobs for the future of Nevada. This is not the kind of national investment that a junior senator wannabe can deliver … especially during this deep economic hole the previous party put the country into.
Of the funding being allocated, 20 projects in Nevada will receive $72.4, while an additional five projects being run by Reno-based companies outside Nevada will receive $20.5 million.
“Nevada has a wealth of geothermal energy and will play a significant role in our nation’s effort to expand the use of this clean, renewable energy source,” Reid said. “This economic recovery funding will help create jobs, improve Nevada’s economy and support the goal of making Nevada the leader in clean energy.”
“Geothermal energy has enormous potential as a source of clean, carbon free energy to heat our homes and power our economy,” said Secretary Chu. “These investments will create jobs, boost our economy and help to jumpstart the geothermal industry in the United States.”
Here’s a list of the projects:
Topic Area: EGS Demonstration
Type of Grantee: TGP Development Company, LLC– EGS Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $14,006,000
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89521
Project Location: New York Canyon, NV 89316
Project Description: TGP plans to demonstrate the commercial application of EGS techniques at the NYC site in a way that minimizes cost and maximizes opportunities for repeat applications elsewhere with the help of Array Information Technology, Inc. (AIT), GeothermEx, Inc., and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The principal advantages of the NYC site are: 1) High temperature gradients at shallow depths; 2) Reported steam production from a 140-foot development drill hole at the New York kaolin deposit in 1963; 3) A location on the opposite side of the Stillwater Range suggesting a possible common heat source underneath the Stillwater Range; and 4) A large lease position which could complement the EGS stimulation effort with logistical support.
Project Impacts: Demonstrated commercial viability of the EGS-stimulated reservoir by generating electricity using fluids produced from the reservoir at economic costs.
Topic Area: EGS R&D – Geophysical Exploration Technologies
Type of Grantee: AltaRock Energy, Inc. – EGS Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $1,450,120
Grantee Location: Sausalito, CA 94965
Project Location: Dixie Valley, NV 89406
Project Description: AltaRock Energy will develop, test, and calibrate an exploration methodology that integrates geology, geophysics, and geochemistry into a conceptual model to identify potential drilling targets.
Project Impacts: If successful, the project will provide a exploration methodology based on geology, ambient noise seismic techniques, geochemistry and other methods.
Topic Area: EGS R&D – Geophysical Exploration Technologies
Type of Grantee: Board of Regents, NSHE, on behalf of UNR
DOE Grant Amount: $935,505
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89557-0138
Project Location: Reno, NV 89557-0138
Project Description: Comprehensive analysis of the structural controls of geothermal systems within the Great Basin and adjacent regions.
Project Impacts: This project, if successful, will augment the discovery of new geothermal systems in the Great Basin.
Topic Area: EGS R&D – Integrated chemical, thermal, mechanical, and hydrological modeling
Type of Grantee: Board of Regents, NSHE, on behalf of UNR
DOE Grant Amount: $1,278,070
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89557-0240
Project Location: Reno, NV 89557-0240
Project Description: Geothermal Heat Exchanger Model with Computational Fluid Dynamics integration for single or two-phase, laminar or turbulent flow and transport analysis.
Project Impacts: The proposed project will provide the ability to quantitative test hypotheses for new EGS designs and technologies, as well as reservoir sustainability modeling.
Topic Area: EGS R & D – HT Cement
Type of Grantee: Trabits Group, LLC
DOE Grant Amount: $2,154,238
Grantee Location: Wasilla, AK 99687-0404
Project Location: Wasilla, AK 99687-0404 / Fairbanks, AK 99775-5880 / Arbuckle, CA 95912 / Reno, NV 89511, 99711
Project Description: The applicant proposes to develop a novel, zeolite-containing lightweight, high temperature, high pressure geothermal cement, which will provide operators with an easy to use, flexible cementing system that saves time and simplifies logistics. The project objective will be achieved by finding the right type of zeolite, and its optimum blend with silica flour and other additives to achieve the cement characteristics desirable for geothermal applications. A systematic, iterative approach will be used to test a large number of zeolite cement samples and shortlist them in order to identify potential cement compositions suitable for geothermal applications. Finally, these cements will be field tested in geothermal wells.
Project Impacts: If successful, the project will result in the development of a cementing solution for high temperature geothermal wells.
Topic Area: Geothermal Demo – Low Temp
Type of Grantee: Beowawe Power, LLC – Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $2,000,000
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89521
Project Location: Beowawe, NV 89821
Project Description: Beowawe Bottoming Binary Project: Bottom-cycling binary power plant that will utilize waste water from existing 16 MW Geothermal Power plant.
Project Impacts: Innovative application new to low temp geothermal, potentially adding 10% additional power. Good economics in high price region.
Topic Area: Geothermal Demo – Low Temp
Type of Grantee: Terra-Gen Sierra Holdings, LLC – Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $2,000,000
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89521
Project Location: Dixie Valley, NV 89406
Project Description: Dixie Valley Bottoming Binary Project: Add on to existing 60 MW Dixie Valley power plant.
Project Impacts: Demonstrate economic feasibility of using waste-water for power generation utilizing a binary plant.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: GeoGlobal Energy LLC– Geothermal Engineer
DOE Grant Amount: $4,040,375
Grantee Location: Santa Rosa, CA 95401-6273
Project Location: Gabbs, NV 89409
Project Description: A systematic combination of LiDAR, push-core drilling, strain and stress mapping and He and O2 isotope analysis.
Project Impacts: A demonstration of cost effective combination of techniques to target blind systems in the Basin and Range and possibly beyond.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: Geothermal Technical Partners, Inc.– Geothermal Engineer
DOE Grant Amount: $1,609,275
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89523-1874
Project Location: McGee Mountain, NV 89445
Project Description: Truck mounted hydro probe (2 m, 75 m) for fluid sampling and thermal surveys.
Project Impacts: The geology of the McGee site is similar to that of many fault hosted systems in the Basin and Range and thus there is a potential for large impact on future exploration projects in the region due to the relatively low cost of thermal surveys.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: Magma Energy Corp.– Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $5,000,000
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89523-9204
Project Location: Soda Lake, NV 89406
Project Description: The applicant proposes to take 3 dimensional, 3 component seismic reflection data acquisition and processing heretofore only applied to oil and gas industry and apply them for use in geothermal energy exploration.
Project Impacts: If successful, this would mark a major advance in our ability to image potentially productive fluid pathways in fracture-dominated systems.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: Magma Energy Corp.– Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $5,000,000
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89523-9204
Project Location: McCoy, NV 89820
Project Description: Combination of geophysical methods including soil gas survey and angled thermal gradient holes.
Project Impacts: A range of methods that will provide a coherent case history in a Basin and Range system and validation of slant hole technique for thermal surveys to reduce upfront exploration risk in future projects.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: Nevada Geothermal Power Company– Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $1,597,847
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89502
Project Location: Black Warrior, NV 89406
Project Description: Subsoil and downhole gas geochemical surveys transferred from the oil and gas industry. Redesign of 2 m shallow temperature probe for rocky environments.
Project Impacts: Validation of relatively simple and cost-effective analyses that would significantly advance our ability to target “blind” fault-hosted geothermal systems.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: OSKI Energy LLC– Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $4,214,086
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89521-8965
Project Location: Hot Pot, NV 89414
Project Description: Improve methods of determining subsurface velocities in 2D seismic surveys conducted in geothermal areas below the depths typically amenable to first-arrival processing. These methods have been used in oil and gas fields, but not yet in geothermal areas.
Project Impacts: If successful, this should provide higher-quality seismic reflection images and more accurate depth control on imaged structures at depths typically targeted in geothermal fields.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: Presco Energy, Inc. – Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $2,277,081
Grantee Location: Castle Rock, CO 80108-8173
Project Location: Rye Patch, NV 89419
Project Description: 2D vertical seismic profiling (VSP) in a Basin and Range setting to image subsurface structures for effective well siting. The applicant intends to utilize dynamic cooling to prevent burning out geophones.
Project Impacts: Validation that 2D VSP is a viable exploration method for geothermal energy in a very promising geothermal field. The project addresses the regional challenge of shallow, unconsolidated fill and the solution could be applied across the Basin and Range.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe
DOE Grant Amount: $4,845,534
Grantee Location: Nixon, NV 89424-0256
Project Location: Pyramid Lake, NV 89502
Project Description: Regional stress analysis, seismic survey and shallow temperature survey. The innovation is accomplished by combining several state of the art techniques into a unified characterization of a potential geothermal resource in a 3D model.
Project Impacts: A validation of an exploration methodology designed for successful exploration in the Basin and Range. The project also creates jobs on an Indian Reservation.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: Sierra Geothermal Power, Inc. – Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $5,000,000
Grantee Location: Olympia, WA 98501-1859
Project Location: Alum, NV 89405
Project Description: Thermal infrared imaging both night and day, coiled tube drilling, 3D resistivity and shallow temperature surveys.
Project Impacts: Validation of utilizing thermal infrared images from both day and night to do mineral and thermal mapping in combination with other surveys for successful well siting. The relative contribution of each technology will be assessed and reported.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: Sierra Geothermal Power, Inc.– Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $5,000,000
Grantee Location: Olympia, WA 98501-1859
Project Location: Silver Peak, NV 89047
Project Description: Develop a replicable method for identifying geothermal resources using innovative hyperspectral infrared survey and coiled tube drilling.
Project Impacts: Validation that hyperspectral surveys can be successfully employed in geothermal exploration and that coiled tube drilling can be used to reduce tripping time and lower costs in geothermal well drilling.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: University of Kansas Center for Research Inc.
DOE Grant Amount: $2,400,509
Grantee Location: Lawrence, KS 66045-7563
Project Location: Fish Lake Valley, NV 89010
Project Description: Thermochronological data analysis using (U-Th)/He data integrated into a comprehensive 3D model of the reservoir.
Project Impacts: Provide insight into the time evolution of the thermal and hydrological regime of the area and validate that the method is effective in lowering exploration risk.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: US Geothermal, Inc.– Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $3,772,560
Grantee Location: Boise, ID 83706
Project Location: San Emidio, NV 89502
Project Description: Develop an exploration strategy for large aperture fractures using 3 Component (3C) seismic survey, PSInSAR, and kinematic structural modeling.
Project Impacts: Demonstration that the methodology utilizing advanced seismic can be effectively used to find large apertures and good flow rates with potential broad application.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: Vulcan Power Company– Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $3,825,973
Grantee Location: Bend, OR 97702
Project Location: Colado, NV 89049
Project Description: Remote sensing radiation detection in combination with aerial photography and shallow temperature survey to identify structural and thermal anomalies.
Project Impacts: A remote sensing technology with potential to reduce overall exploration risk and costs for identifying hidden geothermal systems.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: Nevada Geothermal Power Company– Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $1,764,272
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89502
Project Location: Crump Geyser, OR 97630
Project Description: Combination of Flowing Differential Self-Potential to determine water movement and resistivity tomography studies and low footprint drilling.
Project Impacts: Low footprint, sump-less drilling can minimize the environmental impact of drilling operations for geothermal projects and open up new exploration sites and the electrical monitoring of fluids during well tests could improve well characterization.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: ORMAT Nevada, Inc. – Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $4,475,015
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89511
Project Location: Wister, CA 92257
Project Description: High resolution, 3D multicomponent seismic analysis.
Project Impacts: Validating an advanced technology to define fractures in a blind geothermal resource to reduce exploration risk in the high potential resource area (Imperial Valley) and potentially applicable to other sedimentary areas.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: ORMAT Nevada, Inc. – Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $4,911,330
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89511
Project Location: Maui, HI 96790
Project Description: Combined gravity survey with heli-based aeromagnetics and HE and CO2 gas analysis. The methodology is based on recent evidence that He and CO2 analyses can be indicative of fracture/fault zones and deeper fluid. Applicant intends to use the well studied geothermal system on Hawaii to calibrate exploration techniques and then apply them to an unexplored green field on Maui.
Project Impacts: Demonstration that this new combination of technologies can be effectively utilized in a volcanic environment.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: ORMAT Nevada, Inc. – Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $4,377,000
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89511
Project Location: Glass Buttes, OR 97759
Project Description: Combined use of remote sensing tools including hyperspectral, LiDAR, high resolution aeromagnetic, and gravity surveys to define possible fault conduits.
Project Impacts: Validation of a new combination of remote sensing tools to characterize fault geometries and relationships to reduce resource exploration risk for potential broad application.
Topic Area: Innovative Exploration and Drilling Project
Type of Grantee: Ram Power, Inc. – Geothermal Developer
DOE Grant Amount: $5,000,000
Grantee Location: Reno, NV 89511
Project Location: Imperial Valley, CA 92257
Project Description: Tectonic analysis combined with thermal and drilling data from surrounding area.
Project Impacts: Proof of a new tectonic theory for the Imperial Valley.
Reader Comments (1)
Good blog. Thanks for this list. Very nice search.