Register Staff

12-18-2007

With sky-rocketing oil costs and a recent United Nations Climate Panel report emphasizing the repercussions of global warming, it’s time to re-think the way energy is produced. Several renewable sources of energy have been developed, including one right here in Inyo County, that are not only economically competitive with traditional fossil fuel sources, but also provide a better option for the health of the planet and the welfare of our country.

On Nov. 17, a UN panel of climate experts found that global warming was “unequivocal and human beings are largely responsible for the warming.” Even if no new greenhouse gasses are released, temperature increases of 1.3 degrees in the next 100 years are unavoidable as is a four-foot rise in sea level. Emissions of greenhouse gases have risen 70 percent since 1970. According to UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon, “only urgent, global action will do.”
Now, more than ever, reliable and clean sources of energy must be developed, and part of the solution is closer to home than one might think.

The Navy II plant, shown here, has three electricity-producing turbines. All told, the Coso Geothermal field is currently rated to produce 240 megawatts of clean power. Photo submitted

The State of California, under the leadership of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, has committed itself to taking a lead role in the battle against global warming and U.S. energy dependence. As the world’s eighth largest economy, California can have a significant impact. One of the ways in which the state is dedicated to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions is by converting 20 percent of California’s energy portfolio to renewable energy sources. Senate Bill 1078 along with SB 107 established the California Renewable Energy Portfolio, directing utility companies to increase renewable energy production to 20 percent of their overall power generation by 2010.
According to the California Public Utilities Commission, of the current renewable energy options, wind and geothermal power are dominant.
Coso Operating Company in Inyo County is helping California meet the new 2010 utility goals. The Coso Geothermal Field is located near the southern boundary of the county just east of US 395 and has been generating clean, consistent power since 1987.
Instead of using coal, oil or some other fuel to create heat, geothermal power production takes advantage of naturally occurring hot spots in the Earth and converts that heat into electricity. Think of efficiently harnessing the energy of a geyser and turning it into an electrical powerhouse. With geothermal energy there are no dams or radioactive by-products. Electricity production is predictable and reliable, operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; there’s no waiting for the wind to blow or for the sun to shine.
Best of all for the environment, a geothermal power plant releases 96 percent less greenhouse emissions than a comparable fossil fuel plant. Geothermal energy prices are stable and don’t rise with a host of unpredictable variables like the stock market or geo-political emergencies. The plants themselves are smaller than comparable fossil fuel plants and more flexible in size as they can grow compartmentally.
Another important aspect of geothermal power, is its availability. The U.S. is currently home to one-third of the world’s geothermal energy production and, with new exploration and investment, could power up to 10 percent of the world’s energy needs by 2020. It’s a home-grown product that employs Americans without any hidden costs or national security negatives. When all the external costs are considered, geothermal energy is also extremely cost competitive with fossil fuel energy production.
With host rock at 600 degrees Fahrenheit providing a perfect resource, the Coso Geothermal Field produces 240 megawatts of electricity per hour. That’s enough electricity to meet the needs of approximately 250,000 homes. It is equivalent to saving almost 3 million barrels of oil a year. The Coso Geothermal Field is currently producing more than 8 percent of the country’s geothermal power. Helping to meet America’s energy needs in a clean and green way, the Coso Operating Company is a forward-thinking piece of the new energy puzzle.