Site search
sponsored by
Home
News
ENLARGE
Kim Lamb/LVN file photo Shawn Henry, above, shoots 376-degree steam into a sand pit at the Soda Lake Geothermal Plant in 2004. According to a recently published report, Churchill County's abundance of geothermal energy is a factor in it being named one of the least polluting counties in Nevada.
Nevada was rated as the second highest global warming state in the nation, though Churchill County was listed as one of the least polluting Nevada counties, in a report released by U.S. Public Interest Research Group last month.
Although there are no specific numbers of emissions related to individual counties, there are a half a dozen environmental agencies who complete scoring for counties as well as regions on emissions, water related toxins and health risks from air pollution. Churchill County had one of the best ratings in every report.
According to the Nevada Conservation League, Churchill County is making major contributions to reduce effects of global warming.
Geothermal plants are one asset used in the county that has zero emissions in production of power. Currently there are six geothermal plants in the county. An additional plant on NAS Fallon is due to begin construction in 2007 with an expected operation date in 2008.
Although there are no specific numbers of emissions related to individual counties, there are a half a dozen environmental agencies who complete scoring for counties as well as regions on emissions, water related toxins and health risks from air pollution. Churchill County had one of the best ratings in every report.
According to the Nevada Conservation League, Churchill County is making major contributions to reduce effects of global warming.
Geothermal plants are one asset used in the county that has zero emissions in production of power. Currently there are six geothermal plants in the county. An additional plant on NAS Fallon is due to begin construction in 2007 with an expected operation date in 2008.
A power purchase agreement contract between Sierra Pacific Resources and Ormat Technologies was signed for an additional geothermal plant that will be located at Carson Lake in Churchill County.
"Churchill County has one-third of the available geothermal resources for Nevada," said Dan Schochet, vice president of Ormat Technologies, a geothermal firm. "Only one quarter of that is being utilized."
According to the press release, Nevada's global warming pollution has risen 835 percent from 1960 to 2001. According to the study, Nevada's carbon dioxide emissions were 4.7 million metric tons in 1960 and rose to 44.1 million metric tons by 2001. This ranks Nevada as the second highest contributor to global warming in the nation.
The rise in pollution is attributed to the 43 percent increase in coal combustion for electricity, according to data compiled by U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Coal has the highest carbon content of all fossil fuels used for production of electricity.
"Churchill County has one-third of the available geothermal resources for Nevada," said Dan Schochet, vice president of Ormat Technologies, a geothermal firm. "Only one quarter of that is being utilized."
According to the press release, Nevada's global warming pollution has risen 835 percent from 1960 to 2001. According to the study, Nevada's carbon dioxide emissions were 4.7 million metric tons in 1960 and rose to 44.1 million metric tons by 2001. This ranks Nevada as the second highest contributor to global warming in the nation.
The rise in pollution is attributed to the 43 percent increase in coal combustion for electricity, according to data compiled by U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Coal has the highest carbon content of all fossil fuels used for production of electricity.
Oil combustion accounted for 40 percent of the United States emission increase in carbon dioxide, as did coal combustion.
"Coal power plants contribute 43 percent to pollution," said Linsey Pecikonis, Nevada field organizer, U.S. Public Interest Research Group. "Where geothermal is one option, we need to embrace other options as well."
Churchill County is helping to reduce global warming by utilizing reusable resources such as geothermal plants, said Schochet.
There are approximately 120 megawatts of power currently being produced in county geothermal plants. Power plants producing 120 megawatts of power serve a residential load of about 480,000 people, said Schochet. Once the new plant is operational, it will increase the county's geothermal output to 150 megawatts of electricity, enough power for a residential load of nearly 600,000 people.
"Coal power plants contribute 43 percent to pollution," said Linsey Pecikonis, Nevada field organizer, U.S. Public Interest Research Group. "Where geothermal is one option, we need to embrace other options as well."
Churchill County is helping to reduce global warming by utilizing reusable resources such as geothermal plants, said Schochet.
There are approximately 120 megawatts of power currently being produced in county geothermal plants. Power plants producing 120 megawatts of power serve a residential load of about 480,000 people, said Schochet. Once the new plant is operational, it will increase the county's geothermal output to 150 megawatts of electricity, enough power for a residential load of nearly 600,000 people.
"The geothermal currently used in Churchill County is equivalent to the electricity needed to serve all of Washoe County without any greenhouse gases," said Schochet. "When you turn on the lights in Churchill County, you can be relieved that you aren't releasing any greenhouse gases into the environment."
Other resources like wind and solar power are available in Nevada as well as Churchill County. They can be used in combination with geothermal to help eliminate the coal combustion power plants in many areas, said Pecikonis.
"People seem to forget we have clean energy solutions that can effect everyday consumers," she said. "While Churchill County is ahead of the curve in environmental issues, the overall carbon dioxide effects in Nevada have more than doubled for the entire state."
Pecikonis said perhaps Churchill County can be a county to emulate by utilizing all the available clean energy solutions like geothermal, wind and solar power.
Other resources like wind and solar power are available in Nevada as well as Churchill County. They can be used in combination with geothermal to help eliminate the coal combustion power plants in many areas, said Pecikonis.
"People seem to forget we have clean energy solutions that can effect everyday consumers," she said. "While Churchill County is ahead of the curve in environmental issues, the overall carbon dioxide effects in Nevada have more than doubled for the entire state."
Pecikonis said perhaps Churchill County can be a county to emulate by utilizing all the available clean energy solutions like geothermal, wind and solar power.
