News Release

For Release:  March 18, 2009      
Contact:   Jonna Hildenbrand (707) 468-4024
CA-CC-09-52

BLM Requests Public Comments on Geothermal Project Proposal

The Bureau of Land Management’s Ukiah Field Office is soliciting comments on a draft environmental assessment for a proposed "Engineered Geothermal System" project at the Geysers geothermal field.

The comment period will be open from March 19 through April 17, 2009. A public meeting to discuss the project is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 9 at the Calpine Visitor Center in Middletown.

The proposal includes the deepening of a well operated by Northern California Power Agency below the existing reservoir, hydroshearing the rock using water injection and potentially drilling a second well to intercept the fractures that were enhanced by the process. If successful, the engineered reservoir would act as a heat exchanger to flash injected water into steam which, in turn, would supplement electrical generation at the NCPA powerplants.

Copies of the draft EA are available from the Ukiah Field Office, 2550 North State St., Ukiah, Calif. 95482, (707) 468-4000.  Comments should be addressed to Jonna Hildenbrand at the Ukiah Field Office and may be submitted in writing at the above address or by email (Jonna_Hildenbrand@blm.gov).

-BLM-