The county and IID are pledging to seek federal, state and local funds to develop the lake’s geothermal energy area.
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| Imperial County and Imperial Irrigation District officials sign the ceremonial memorandum of understanding document during the signing ceremony Thursday at Red Hill Marina at Salton Sea, near Calipatria. (Courtesy Imperial Valley Press) |
Both agencies’ boards unanimously approved the document earlier in the week.The development of the Salton Sea’s renewable energy resources is crucial to the sea’s restoration, officials say.
The county and IID are pledging to seek federal, state and local funds to develop the lake’s geothermal energy area and a commitment from the state to fund and construct an energy transmission line to export energy generated in the area.
An estimated 1,700 MW of energy lie below the Salton Sea, most of which has yet to be tapped.
Officials hope that the closure of San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station and a possible increase in the state’s renewable energy portfolio standards drive demand for the Salton Sea’s resources.
“When it was operating, it generated 2,200MW of non-emissive energy,” said IID General Manager Kevin Kelley.
“This has led the state of California through its regulatory agencies and significantly its air resources board to scramble for replacement energy. Well, I haven’t studied the resulting contingency plan, I’m pretty sure the estimated 1,700 MW of known but untapped geothermal energy here at the Salton Sea didn’t make it onto the list. That’s why the immediate goal of this MOU and our initiative must be to get on that list,” Kelley said.
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