Friday, April 19, 2013

USA, Idaho:

For Sale: Ranch House with Potential for Geothermal Power

A property for sale in Idaho comes complete with its own hot-springs that could be developed to produce geothermal power. White Arrow Ranch and Mineral Hot Springs are to be sold by auction on May 16.

According to the auction company all of the buildings are served by White Arrow Spring, located in a gully on the northwest corner of the property. The spring – one of the largest, privately-owned geothermal hot springs in the country – offers 2 cubic feet per second (1,300,000 gallons per day) of 160 degree water. The water heats the buildings on the property and fills the swimming pool, and the Jacuzzi spa next to the pool, for year ‘round enjoyment.

The Idaho National laboratory conducted a test on the geothermal water: "The data tells us some important things about the history of the water.  I can say that we saw nothing harmful in the water, even the uranium concentrations are extremely low. Clearly this water has never moved through anything but the clean volcanic rocks of the Snake River Plain. If you could prove that the water was much hotter at depth, your thermal system would be ideal for a power plant, as the very low TDS would make water handling in the plant a dream".