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Calpine interview on concerns over playing field for geothermal in California

Calpine interview on concerns over playing field for geothermal in California Calpine Unit 3, Sonoma Power Plant. Source: Loettahuro (Panoramio.com)
Francisco Rojas 30 Jun 2014

In a recent interview with TheStreet in California, Michael Rogers, Senior VP Geothermal Division at Calpine is talking about the challenges to his company on favourable subsidies for wind and solar power. Those, so Michael Rogers, put geothermal at a disadvantage.

As reported in our website last week, geothermal energy might not be competing at the same playing field as other renewables in the US.

In a recent article in The Street, Calpine’s Michael Rogers talks about the company’s difficulty securing renewals for existing contracts for its geothermal power and what kind of shadow that casts on new plants the company is developing. State policies in California favor subsidized wind and solar power, the company says.

But wind and solar are an intermittent power source where geothermal is constant. Calpine says the true costs of wind and solar and the true economic benefits of its geothermal facilities aren’t being factored in. Calpine’s geothermal plants at The Geysers currently supply 18% of California’s renewable energy, employ 300 people and help neighboring counties recycle wastewater.

 

Source: The Street Website