USA, Oregon:

Newberry Geothermal Project Gets OK (Bend Bulletin)

Newberry Crater

The Bureau of Land Management on Thursday gave final approval for an experimental geothermal project on the Deschutes National Forest near Newberry National Volcanic Monument.

AltaRock Energy of Seattle plans to dump millions of gallons of water down a 10,000-foot well near La Pine as it tries to stimulate underground heating of water. If successful, the technique, which could trigger small earthquakes, may be used for power production.

The BLM, which oversees geothermal exploration on public lands, approved a two-year study of the technology. The decision is up for potential appeal, by people who commented on draft plans, for the next month.