Bill To Boost Geothermal Gets Senate OK

WASHINGTON, DC — On Thursday, senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley applauded the Senate’s passage of their legislation to encourage more geothermal energy production on federal lands.  The Geothermal Production Expansion Act of 2013, S. 363, streamlines the federal geothermal leasing program to encourage development of geothermal power by making adjacent development rights available at fair market rates.

“This bill promotes clean energy development while protecting taxpayers,” Wyden said. “I encourage my colleagues on the House side to pass this bill so geothermal developers can get development rights at fair market value without having to wait for lease nominations or speculators driving up the price of leases.”

“Geothermal energy is a reliable and renewable source of energy that has the potential to help move us to a cleaner energy future,” Merkley added. “We should be doing everything we can to boost production of innovative, affordable, and renewable domestic energy sources.  I urge my House colleagues to take up and pass this bill.”

The Bureau of Land Management manages geothermal projects on federal land under lease agreements and currently can lease about 250 million acres of federal land that contains geothermal power potential.  Geothermal energy projects that are producing geothermal power under the BLM’s management currently make up about half of the total geothermal generating capacity in the United States.  Oregon has the potential to produce at least 1,100 megawatts from geothermal resources – enough energy to power nearly a million homes.

If you see local news happen, call the Horizon Broadcasting Group News Tip Hotline at 541-323-NEWS, or email us.

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Beaver Walk & Beaver Believers Screening

Beaver Natural History Walk & Restoration Site Tour, 4-5 pm Followed by a screening of The Beaver Believers and Q &A Hosted by Maureen Thompson, Beaver Works Program Manager and Kolleen Miller, Education Director for The Upper

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Living With Wildfire: Are You Prepared?

Learn how to safeguard yourself, your home and neighborhood from the threat of wildfire in Central Oregon. Summit West Neighborhood District is hosting two wildfire preparedness seminars with partner agencies to raise awareness and encourage Central Oregonians