Northwest's First Geothermal Power Plant Set to Go Online in Idaho by 2007
October 2006
U.S. Geothermal will use this well drill to tap geothermal resources in Idaho.
Credit: Idaho Department of Water Resources
This summer a groundbreaking ceremony for U.S. Geothermal Electric was held near the Raft River south of Malta. U.S. Geothermal, Inc. is building the Northwest's first geothermal powered electricity plant. The company plans to turn out 10 megawatts (MW) by September 2007 (enough electricity to power approximately 5,000 homes), increasing to 36 MW within four years, and potentially 90 MW or more thereafter.
The company is also developing a list of other Idaho sites where geothermal resources might be tapped to produce electricity. Indeed, geothermal water can be found throughout much of Idaho, but tapping it for electricity production can be a risky economic venture.
U.S. Geothermal plans to turn out 10 MW of electricity by September 2007.
Credit: Idaho Department of Water Resources
At U.S. Geothermal, growing markets for green energy (clean and renewable) offset the risks. The company has a 20-year contract to sell power from its first plant to Idaho Power Company. This is the first of perhaps many such contracts that will use a fairly abundant Idaho resource.
This article was adapted from the July–August 2006 edition of Idaho Currents.
See more Idaho project descriptions published in Conservation Update.
Read recent Idaho news stories about state involvement in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects published on the EERE Web site.