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CanGEA highlights cost advantages for geothermal development in BC

CanGEA highlights cost advantages for geothermal development in BC Mountain range at Valemount, BC/ Canada (source: flickr/ BC Randonneurs Photo Gallery, creative commons)
Francisco Rojas 5 Feb 2015

CanGEA states that without adjusting for other significant benefits such as reduced transmission costs and increased permanent jobs, the geothermal unit energy cost of $56 - $73/MWh compares positively to the updated Site C estimations

In a recent press release, Alison Thompson, Chair and Managing Director of the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA) provided a technical briefing on the CanGEA Geothermal Report (as announced here on ThinkGeoEnergy). Without adjusting for other significant benefits such as reduced transmission costs and increased permanent jobs, the geothermal unit energy cost of $56 – $73/MWh compares positively to the updated Site C cost to ratepayers of $58-$61/MWh.

CanGEA Chair Alison Thompson notes:

“To paraphrase Minister Bill Bennett, there is every possible way that geothermal can be the answer to our prayers at the present time. If the BC Government treats geothermal energy as a priority, not an afterthought, geothermal will provide firm energy beginning in 2018 at a lower cost than Site C and in a manner that benefits ratepayers, taxpayers, First Nations, the economy and the environment, not to mention having a carbon footprint that”

Source: CanGEA via CNW