GEA executive director Karl Gawell Secretary Jewell’s announcement reaffirms the Administration’s commitment to approve 20,000MW of renewable energy production on public lands by 2020.
"With roughly one-half of the geothermal power produced today located on federal public lands, it is important for the Department of Interior to maintain a priority for leasing and permitting new geothermal power projects," added Gawell.
Jewell’s commitment is expected to boost the two geothermal areas in Southern California, developing a new area in the West Chocolate Mountains as well as approving a new 40MW power plant in Mono County.
These projects on the federal lands are estimated to account for a total of 190MW of geothermal capacity, producing the equivalent power of over 1,000MW of solar photovoltaics.
In addition, the move will create 1,200 construction and manufacturing jobs per annum, and around 325 full-time permanent jobs in Southern California.
Meanwhile, GEA anticipates annual benefits of $86m to California and $29m to Nevadans through cutting down fossil fuels emissions due to geothermal projects.
