Enel plans expansion of its Cove Fort geothermal plant in Utah
Highway at Cove Fort historic site in Utah, U.S. (source: flickr/ CountyLemonade, creative commons)
Francisco Rojas
27 Feb 2015
An environmental assessment is being prepared since Enel aims to drill six wells near Cove Fort to expand the electricity generation capability of the geothermal plant.
In an official public notice, Enel has officially submitted a proposal for an expansion of the Cove Fort geothermal plant in Utah.
According to local news, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Cedar City Field Office has received a proposal from Enel Cove Fort, LLC (Enel) to drill six geothermal hot water wells in the vicinity of their existing Cove Fort facilities to support the expansion of their electricity generation capabilities. The BLM, in cooperation with the Fishlake National Forest (FS), requires the preparation of an environmental assessment in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1500—1508).
The proposed project is located about 1 mile south of Cove Fort, Utah in Sections 28 and 31-33 of Township 25 South Range 6 West and Sections 5 and 6 of Township 26 South Range 6 West SLBM. Total surface disturbance after reclamation could be approximately 30 acres
An environmental assessment is being prepared to analyze several alternative full development scenarios including the wells, gathering system, access roads, power plant, substation, transmission line, and other ancillary facilities. An environmental assessment is anticipated to be prepared by May 2015.
The BLM and FS encourage public participation on the proposed project. Comments at this early stage are helpful in determining issues to address in the EA. Comments will be most helpful if received within 30 days from the date of publication of this notice.
Source: The Richfield Reaper
