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| The extent of the geothermal resource on the Salton Sea along with estimated generation of 2330 MWe. |
The report Salton Sea Revenue Potential Study says that renewable energy development at the Salton Sea could generate up to $4 billion in revenue over 30 years, with $2 billion going toward restoration.
Geothermal development alone could generate as much as $2 million over the study period, with mineral recovery bringing in a potential $1.5 billion.
The report assumes a geothermal energy potential of 2,000 megawatts. Estimates of royalties from mineral recovery projects are based on $2.4 million per year for a 50-megawatt geothermal plant.
However, the market prices are currently too low to justify geothermal development at the Salton Sea.
“Geothermal developers would be at the Salton Sea right now if they could afford it,” said Gary Saleba, president of EES Consulting, the firm that conducted the study. In addition to energy transmission capabilities, state grant funds may be needed to spur geothermal development, Saleba said.
A blanket commitment for geothermal development may be needed to cut through red tape.“It would be unfortunate if all 15 to 20 (geothermal projects) would have to go through a separate permitting process,” Saleba said. “Some kind of a blanket permit for a cookie-cutter type of geothermal project down here would be something which would expedite things.”
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