Energy industry officials meet in Bend to discuss industry
In the last decade, numerous tests by geologists, energy companies and government agencies have shown the same thing: Southern, Eastern and some parts of Central Oregon are hotbeds of geothermal activity.
But in many cases, strict regulations and a lack of demand has made tapping into those resources a challenge.
More than 30 renewable energy experts from around the state met in Bend on Thursday to discuss ongoing projects, along with the potential and challenges facing Oregon's fledgling geothermal industry energy.
For five years, Nevada geothermal company Ormat Technologies has been studying the area around Glass Buttes, about 80 miles southeast of Bend. Wells dug 30 years ago by a petroleum company found 200-degree water about 2,000 feet below the surface in the area. Patrick Walsh, Ormat's chief geologist, said the company thinks it can find 300-degree water by drilling down to 3,000 feet.