Thanks to our partners at Calpine, last week the Campaign loaded up a bus with local elected officials, business sponsors and colleagues and took the windy road up to the Geysers. The Geysers is the world’s single largest geothermal resource for electrical generation and supplies 25% of California’s renewable energy. Calpine Corporation owns and operates 19 geothermal power plants at the Geysers, generating up to 725 megawatts of “green” power. The first stop was the Vistor Center in Middletown, which had a map of the area and exhibits showing how geothermal energy is generated. (Pictured from left to right: Danielle Seperas, Calpine, Ann Hancock,CPC, Sharon Bice, Redwodd Hill Farm, Bruce Carlsen, Calpine)
On the tour Senior Geologist Joe Beall explained that the Santa Rosa Geysers Recharge Project, which injects treated wastewater from the city into the steam field has greatly increased electricity production at the Geysers and made the whole operation more sustainable. The project has enhanced geothermal electricity production by as much as 85 megawatts, enough electricity to power approximately 85,000 households. The project also represents an environmentally preferred discharge solution for Santa Rosa, protecting Russian River habitat and public waterways. If you are interested in taking a tour of the Geysers, see the events section below for upcoming tour times or go to www.geysers.com.
