Harry Reid: Geothermal Energy Becoming A Reality

$11.7 million paid for geothermal leases in Nevada

August 15, 2007 -- Las Vegas, NV – U.S. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada hailed major investments made in Nevada's geothermal industry. Yesterday, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) leased 123,000 acres of Nevada land to companies looking to further develop geothermal technologies. Most of that land is located in Churchill, Pershing, Mineral, Nye and Lander counties and sold for a price of $11.7 million.

Reid, who has a vision of making Nevada the leader in renewable energy, has long supported the development of renewable sources of clean energy in Nevada.

In April of 2006, a letter sent by Senators Reid and Ensign, along with 12 other western Senators, urged the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and then Interior Secretary nominee Kempthorne to quicken the process of leasing land for the development of geothermal energy. The letter sent by Senators Reid, Ensign and 12 other western Senators is attached.

“I am very pleased with the results of yesterday's land lease,” said Reid. “Due to letters and pressure from Senator Ensign, me and other western Senators, BLM has sped up lease sales, permit processing and clarifying regulations to expedite geothermal development in Nevada and across the West. These geothermal leases will help create jobs for Nevadans and create clean electricity while preserving Nevada’s precious environment. Geothermal energy is a reality in Nevada and has the potential to cost-effectively supply hundreds of more megawatts of energy for Nevada.”

Geothermal energy is produced when the heat of the earth heats groundwater that is close to the earth’s surface. When reservoirs of heated groundwater are located close to the surface, wells can be drilled into the earth that extract the water and inject it into turbines where the steam produces electricity. That water is then re-injected back into the reservoir to maintain the reservoir. The process is then repeated.

Source: Senator Harry Reid

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