Italy-based Enel has constructed two geothermal plants that will generate 65 MW of power in the USA – enough to supply 40,000 households.
"Nevada is well positioned to take advantage of renewable energy; we’re in a better position than any other state in the country," US Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said at a dedication ceremony.
Nevada Public Utilities Commissioner Rebecca Wagner said the $200 million plants put the state closer to meeting a goal of producing 20% of its power from renewable resources by 2015. The US government has granted $12 million in federal stimulus money as further geothermal potential is explored.
Meeting that obligation and further enhancing Nevada’s geothermal potential will also get a boost from $12 million in federal stimulus money, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday in Reno.
Reid announced that geothermal potential is being explored at the army depot in Hawthorne and Naval Air Station Fallon. Lt. Col. Kimberly Gilbert-Mason, Hawthorne depot commander, said the site was chosen to participate in the Army’s energy conservation effort and it is the only Army installation in the country exploring geothermal power to fuel its energy needs.
She said two test holes already drilled at the depot will be evaluated in June and have the potential to provide 30 MW of power. Two more test holes are to be drilled.
At the Navy base in Fallon, stimulus money will be used to explore the southwest corner of its Bravo 16 area and Dixie Valley for geothermal sources to build a planned 30 MW power plant by 2011, said Capt. Michael Glaser, the base commander.