Clean Energy Economy Heats Up In Idaho
A new geothermal plant in Idaho is providing electricity for 10,000 homes and heating up Idaho's clean energy economy. Recent analysis by federal agencies documents the West's extensive geothermal resources, estimating over 8,000 megawatts of electrical power could be generated from identified geothermal resources in the western United States. See Geothermal Energy Resources and Policies of the Western States http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/energy/geothermal/geothermal_nationwide/Documents.html (BLM and USFS, 2009). Recently, Clean Energy Pioneers – www.CleanEnergyPioneers.org –profiles the Idaho project and examines the far-reaching opportunity to grow the West's economy and create jobs with geothermal power.
"Across the rural West, we can warm up the job market, grow our businesses, and heat up our economy with geothermal power," said Bill Midcap, Director of Renewable Energy Development for the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.
The western United States has abundant geothermal resources. The recent federal report identified geothermal resources in all 12 western states. The report found that the "hottest resources" where "commercial electric generation would most likely occur" include central and northern Nevada, western Utah, and southern and central Idaho.
"The West's development of geothermal power is a clean energy trifecta that means more jobs, a steady flow of homegrown electricity, and less harmful pollution," said John Nielsen, Western Resource Advocates Energy Program Director.
In Idaho, Boise-based U.S. Geothermal's Raft River Valley generating station is the first commercial geothermal energy plant in the region. At 13 megawatts, the U.S. Geothermal plant will supply clean energy for about 10,000 homes. It is also located to tap more power from under the ground because the Raft River Valley, 200 miles southeast of Boise, is a geothermal hotspot ripe for energy expansion.
"Idaho's Raft River Geothermal Project is pioneering clean energy solutions that create jobs today and help grow the West's clean energy economy," said Dan Grossman, Regional Director of Environmental Defense's Rocky Mountain Office. Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, EDF, and Western Resource Advocates are partners in the multi-media Clean Energy Pioneers Project at www.CleanEnergyPioneers.org chronicling important developments and opportunities in the West's clean energy economy.
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, is a progressive, grassroots organization dedicated to achieving profitability for family farmers and ranchers, promoting stewardship of land and water resources, delivering safe, healthy food to consumers, and strengthening rural communities through education, legislation, and cooperation, For more information visit www.rmfu.org
Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.
Western Resource Advocates, protects the West's land, air, and water recognizing that success can only come from working collaboratively with other conservation groups, hunters and fishermen, ranchers, American Indians, and all those who seek a sustainable future for this remarkable part of the country, For more information visit www.westernresourceadvocates.org
SOURCE: Rocky Mountain Farmers Union