USA, California:

Calpine Sees Risk to Geothermal as Green Energy Grows (The Street)

Shrinking the options for green energy is probably not what the leaders of the State of California have in mind. But that may be what's happening.

According to energy giant Calpine, hundreds of millions of dollars in historically profitable geothermal energy investments at its famed Geysers facilities may be at risk as California utilities marginalize geothermal power in favor of other renewables, like wind and solar.

As the state's renewable energy mandate expands, utilities are not being required to contract for geothermal power and, according to the company, are instead choosing wind and solar. Geothermal has been an established energy source for 100 years and while maintenance of its wells, plants and infrastructure carries considerable expense, it is a proven technology and a constant source of power that is already embedded in the local economy.

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