U.S. Geothermal operates a geothermal power plant west of Vale. The property involved in the agreement includes 133 acres, which are accessed off Lytle Boulevard. The land abuts private land where the company has obtained leases, according to information provided to Malheur County Court.
Kit Kamo, Snake River Economic Development director, has been working with U.S. Geothermal on finding a new site for potential development for geothermal power near Vale, with it being near a fault line.
U.S. Geothermal “has to do a lot of research,” Kamo said. That research includes determining the volume of hot water and whether it is hot enough.
A plant near Vale would be smaller but quieter than the plant at Neal Hot Springs, west of Bully Creek Reservoir, as water would be used for cooling rather than compressors, Kamo said.
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