TOPIC 'Geothermal Energy' on Nov 07, 2008 (CET)
Alaska’s Geothermal Resources
Twenty-five years ago, Alaska landowners couldn’t get anyone interested in any of the 16 tracts of land believed to be hovering over geothermal resources on the south side of Mount Spurr. Today, however, another story is evolving. Recently, when the lands were offered for lease again, all 16 tracts received bids including offers from some of the biggest players in the world among geothermal plant manufacturers: Ormat Technologies, Inc. and Iceland America Energy, Inc.
Renewable energy enthusiasts in the State of Alaska are excited that so much interest is now being shown in utilizing the underlying power of steam vents along Crater Peak. The possibility of producing Alaska’s first geothermal facility on a large scale is exciting. Discussions about Alaska possibly having the potential for such a geothermal undertaking are finally going to get some serious scrutiny.
Residents of Alaska are experiencing high energy costs, just like millions of other world citizens, and they are anxious to get some good news about the possibility of a renewable energy source in their backyards. Studies will now begin to determine if the state has a “geothermic reservoir” within close enough proximity of the surface to financially make it practical to develop.
In the latter part of October, the U.S. Department of the Interior designated 190 million acres of land belonging to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and National Forest Land to be part of a geothermal project. Alaska also has lands that are included as part of that initiative.
Up to this point, the only successful story of Alaskan geothermal power production is a private power plant that was built two years ago. The plant is positioned east of Fairbanks at Chena Hot Springs Resort, and it generates a relatively small 400 kW of power.
However, there is hope – and potential all over the state. Bell Island, on Tongass National Forest land, is being examined as a possible source to produce 20 MW of geothermal power that can be transferred to a transmission line running to Ketchikan, 43 miles away. Other sites, including Mount Makushin and Akutan Volcano offer the reality of being able to produce energy that is clean and cheap for the residents of Alaska.
Sherry Irvin
on behalf of the
BascoTec Internet Limited
Technologie Park 13
33100 Paderborn
Germany
