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BLM seeks public comments on env. assessment of San Emidio II geothermal project

BLM seeks public comments on env. assessment of San Emidio II geothermal project San Emidio geothermal power plant, Nevada (source: U.S. Geothermal)
Alexander Richter 11 Jun 2020

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management seeking public comments on draft environmental assessment for San Emidio II geothermal project in Nevada.

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments on a draft environmental assessment for the San Emidio II North Valley Geothermal Development Project proposed by Ormat Technologies Inc. The project supports the Trump Administration’s goals of achieving energy security, strengthening local economies and creating local jobs. The 30-day comment period will start June 11, 2020.

The 24,000-acre San Emidio Geothermal Unit includes nine federal geothermal leases and is located in the San Emidio Desert approximately 15 miles southwest of Gerlach, Nevada. The area has a long history of geothermal exploration and production that began in the late-1980s with the construction of the 3.6-MW Empire Geothermal Plant. Development and production of the San Emidio geothermal resource has continued since then, the plant facilities were expanded to produce 11.8 MW in 2012.

“The BLM actively supports the Trump Administration’s America First Energy Plan, an ‘all of the above’ strategy which supports energy development on public lands, improving infrastructure, and creating jobs in local economies,” said BLM Nevada’s State Director Jon Raby. “We look forward to receiving public input on the San Emidio II Project as we continue to evaluate this project.”

The project also supports Executive Order 13783Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth and Secretary’s Order 3349: American Energy Independence.

As part of the next phase of development for this project, the BLM is analyzing the environmental effects of upgrading the current plant and potentially building a new power plant to produce up to 40 megawatts of electricity. Other construction will include a substation, up to 26 total geothermal production and injection wells, approximately 7.5 miles of aboveground pipelines and an approximately 58-mile long 120-Kilovolt overhead power line originating at the power plant that will terminate at the NV Energy Eagle Substation near Fernley, Nevada.

The draft EA for the NVGDP-SEGF can be viewed at: https://bit.ly/38ShWp7. The public is encouraged to provide comments via email: blm_nv_wdo_sanemidioii@blm.gov, by internet through the link listed in the next paragraph; or by mail:

Source: BLM