USA, California:

The Geysers Geothermal Powers SCP’s ‘Evergreen’ Option (North Bay Business Journal)

18% percent of California’s renewable energy in our backyard

When we think of renewable energy we mostly think of power from the sky such as solar and wind. And when we think of what we should phase out, we picture underground sources such as coal, oil, and fossil gas. However, one underground power source is relatively benign and counts toward California’s renewable energy goals – geothermal.

Sonoma County is home to the world’s largest electricity-generating geothermal power resource. A very rare convergence of factors creates The Geysers: enough porous rock at a hot enough temperature that is close enough to the surface with a plentiful water supply to create steam.

 Although The Geysers are right in the Mayacamas Mountains, in the past very little of the electricity that Sonoma County customers purchased was from The Geysers. That is changing. Sonoma Clean Power has contracted for electricity from Calpine Corporation, operators of most of The Geysers. Sonoma Clean Power customers can now select EverGreen, electricity that is 100 percent local geothermal power. For customers that select Sonoma Clean Power’s basic service called CleanStart, the electricity mix includes about 15 percent Geysers power.

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