Alternative Energy

Feds Grant $30 million for Central Oregon Geothermal Project

By Joseph Friedrichs, 11-03-09

	A view of Paulina Peak in the Newberry caldera. Photo by Joseph Friedrichs.

A Central Oregon geothermal project many years in the making continues to heat up following a recent announcement that nearly $30 million will go toward work near Newberry Crater.

Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced the Energy Department grants would be coming through for seven Oregon projects. An estimated $25 million will be designated to power-producing technology involving water injected into the earth and about $4.5 million on technology to locate geothermal reservoirs at Newberry, according to Wyden.

“This funding will literally help to bring Oregon’s geothermal energy potential to the surface,” Wyden stated in a released statement. “It will create and sustain jobs improving alternative energy technology to better tap into Oregon’s unique set of renewable energy resources.”

We’ve been covering this story on NewWest.Net for several years, and this is by far the biggest advancement in the project.  AltaRock Energy, Inc. a Bay Area company, will be the lead developer at Newberry,. The popular recreation area, located about 30 miles from Bend, will certainly be impacted when drilling begins. But let’s get real, if you want to make an omelet, you’ve got to break a few freaking’ eggs.

All the same, some Oregonians and others who visit the Newberry caldera, including Paulina and East lakes, will be quick to dismiss the project as a nuisance. However, as geothermal continues to emerge as a competitive source of power, this project seems to make more and more sense. Check out geothermal’s cost comparison to solar, coal and other fuels by clicking here.

In addition to the Newberry grant, other funds will be distributed to the following areas in central and southern Oregon: Glass Buttes east of Bend, with $4.4 million designated to locate faults in geothermal reservoirs; Paisley, $2 million for power plant and aquaculture projects; Adel, $1.8 million for testing drilling techniques; and at Klamath Falls, $1 million for Oregon Institute of Technology and $800,000 for the city.

Like this story? Get more! Sign up for our free newsletters.