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A geothermal company seeking to expand its facility in Stillwater received unanimous approval for a special use permit from the Churchill County Planning Commission Wednesday night following voiced opposition from several residents.
Enel Stillwater, LLC received the special use permit to construct the new Stillwater II Geothermal project adjacent to the existing Stillwater I power plant.
The commission's public hearing Wednesday night was continued from the Oct. 10 planning commission meeting after commissioners determined more information was needed before making a decision. Several Stillwater residents said the geothermal plant was negatively affecting their domestic wells, some to the point of having to connect pumps to previously free-flowing artesian wells.
Planning department staff and county staff have worked with Enel and Stillwater residents during the last month to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. The commission held a workshop Oct. 23 to discuss the geothermal plant expansion with affected residents, Enel representatives and a representative from the Nevada Division of Minerals, the department which oversees permitting of geothermal projects.
At Wednesday's meeting, Daren Daters, compliance manager with Enel North America, gave a short presentation outlining Enel's project timeline, the residents' complaints of loss of well pressure and reduced water quality. He described the company's action plan to continue meeting with affected homeowners and to expand a well monitoring program. He concluded by touting the economic benefits of the geothermal-produced electrical generation plant.
Tim Rubald, the executive director of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development, spoke in support of the geothermal project and said his commission abated a portion of the taxes Enel will spend in purchasing $117 million in equipment for the new plant as an incentive.
But residents, worried about keeping their water wells viable, asked several pointed questions.
"What good is it to monitor if our wells go completely down?" asked Kathy Mort, who said a number of homes in the Stillwater area rely upon their own geothermal wells for heat in the winter.
Sandy Hadler, representing her parents Rod and Maureen Weishaupt, was concerned with the ambient noise and light that could emanate from the new power plant, which is scheduled to come online in late 2008.
John Roth was skeptical about the monitoring program and urged the commission to not act in haste.
"I don't know what effect monitoring will do," Roth said. "Let's monitor the wells first, then approve or disapprove the power plant."
Daters, the Enel compliance manager, assured those using geothermal heat he didn't take their situation lightly because the winter season is approaching.
Debi Kissick, planning department secretary, shared several letters from Stillwater homeowners with the commission. Stillwater Farms and Lyle and Marcia de Braga both expressed support for the power plant, and Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribal Chairman Alvin Moyle asked for consideration in mitigating the effects upon tribal domestic water, lighting and noise.
Both Daters and Brad Platt, vice president of plant development, told commissioners the new plant would utilize newer technology in lighting to reduce glare, and Enel would take appropriate steps to minimize noise. One of the conditions of the special use permit is the implementation of a monitoring program of shallow, intermediate and geothermal production and injection wells before operation of the new plant.
The monitoring program will be reviewed annually for the first three years. The company also will provide the county with a hydraulic model of the water dynamics of the Stillwater area. Noise restrictions were also imposed upon the new plant and injection well sites.
Enel Stillwater, LLC received the special use permit to construct the new Stillwater II Geothermal project adjacent to the existing Stillwater I power plant.
The commission's public hearing Wednesday night was continued from the Oct. 10 planning commission meeting after commissioners determined more information was needed before making a decision. Several Stillwater residents said the geothermal plant was negatively affecting their domestic wells, some to the point of having to connect pumps to previously free-flowing artesian wells.
Planning department staff and county staff have worked with Enel and Stillwater residents during the last month to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. The commission held a workshop Oct. 23 to discuss the geothermal plant expansion with affected residents, Enel representatives and a representative from the Nevada Division of Minerals, the department which oversees permitting of geothermal projects.
At Wednesday's meeting, Daren Daters, compliance manager with Enel North America, gave a short presentation outlining Enel's project timeline, the residents' complaints of loss of well pressure and reduced water quality. He described the company's action plan to continue meeting with affected homeowners and to expand a well monitoring program. He concluded by touting the economic benefits of the geothermal-produced electrical generation plant.
Tim Rubald, the executive director of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development, spoke in support of the geothermal project and said his commission abated a portion of the taxes Enel will spend in purchasing $117 million in equipment for the new plant as an incentive.
But residents, worried about keeping their water wells viable, asked several pointed questions.
"What good is it to monitor if our wells go completely down?" asked Kathy Mort, who said a number of homes in the Stillwater area rely upon their own geothermal wells for heat in the winter.
Sandy Hadler, representing her parents Rod and Maureen Weishaupt, was concerned with the ambient noise and light that could emanate from the new power plant, which is scheduled to come online in late 2008.
John Roth was skeptical about the monitoring program and urged the commission to not act in haste.
"I don't know what effect monitoring will do," Roth said. "Let's monitor the wells first, then approve or disapprove the power plant."
Daters, the Enel compliance manager, assured those using geothermal heat he didn't take their situation lightly because the winter season is approaching.
Debi Kissick, planning department secretary, shared several letters from Stillwater homeowners with the commission. Stillwater Farms and Lyle and Marcia de Braga both expressed support for the power plant, and Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribal Chairman Alvin Moyle asked for consideration in mitigating the effects upon tribal domestic water, lighting and noise.
Both Daters and Brad Platt, vice president of plant development, told commissioners the new plant would utilize newer technology in lighting to reduce glare, and Enel would take appropriate steps to minimize noise. One of the conditions of the special use permit is the implementation of a monitoring program of shallow, intermediate and geothermal production and injection wells before operation of the new plant.
The monitoring program will be reviewed annually for the first three years. The company also will provide the county with a hydraulic model of the water dynamics of the Stillwater area. Noise restrictions were also imposed upon the new plant and injection well sites.
