Calpine seeking time extension for geothermal well site permit at the Geysers
ThermaSource drilling rig at the Geysers, California/ US in February 2011 (source: flickr/ thinkgeoenergy, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
5 Dec 2012
Calpine is seeking for an extension of a 30 year old permit for geothermal well operation at the Davies Estate geothermal well site at the Geysers, but is facing opposition by local residents.
Reported yesterday from California, Calpine is seeking a time extension on drilling permits, while residents are concerned about the company’s geothermal activities in the area.
On November 27, Calpine held a resident meeting to discuss the continued geothermal well operation at the Davies Estate geothermal well site on Foard Road at the Geysers in California.
The permit in question is 29 years old issued by the Lake County Community Development Department. The permit expires August 11, 2013 and covers four existing wells on a pad on a privately owned land located south of Anderson Springs.
Residents are critical to a renewal as they connect earthquake activities in their region to the activities by Calpine. At the same time Calpine argues that the 30 year time limitation in the original permit should be abolished and that it should be provided without time limitation like permits issued by Sonoma County.
But it seems like the issue here is that it is a land use permit filed with the county and not the state and thats why there is a time limitation.
Source: Lake County News
