News

Western GeoPower receives permit for its Unit 1 project at The Geysers

Alexander Richter 24 Jul 2009

Western GeoPower receives permit for its project at The Geysers in Sonoma county, California.

Western GeoPower announced the achievement of two major regulatory milestones for the company’s “Unit 1 project at The Geysers geothermal field in California, with the receipt of approvals for both the Environmental Document and the Conditional Use Permit.

The unanimous approvals were granted during a public hearing by the Sonoma County Board of Zoning Adjustments for the construction and development of a 38.5 Megawatt (gross) geothermal power plant, wellfield and steam gathering system at the Company’s leasehold at The Geysers. Sonoma County is the Lead Agency under the California Environmental Quality Act for projects of under 50 Megawatts capacity being developed within the county.

“This is the first geothermal power plant to be permitted at The Geysers Geothermal Field in 21 years,” said Sigrid Swedenborg, Sonoma County Land Use Planner for the project. “It is an exciting project for Sonoma County and meets our General Plan policies to promote renewable energy generation systems.”

The power will be purchased, pursuant to a previously announced power purchase agreement, by the Northern California Power Agency, a non-profit joint powers agency that provides electricity generated from environmentally responsible sources to its member communities in Northern and Central California. The power will also help California reach the Renewable Portfolio Standard of supplying 20% of the State’s power from renewable energy sources by 2010.”

Source: Company announcement via Trading Markets