The shrinking of the Salton Sea might pose a serious public health hazard, but it could also boost renewable energy development in the region, officials said Thursday at the Southern California Energy Summit.As the sea recedes, the exposed lake-bed is expected to spew enormous amounts of dust into the air, contributing to increased lung cancer and asthma rates and potentially causing tens of billions of dollars in damage. But some of the land that opens up as the sea recedes is likely to contain prime geothermal hotspots.
Up to 2,000 megawatts of new geothermal potential could become available, according to Andy Horne, who works on natural resources development for Imperial County. Officials have long seen geothermal development as critical to funding the restoration of the Salton Sea, which has been receding as agricultural runoff declines.
