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Geo-heat plant major addition to Klamath’s industrial base
Geothermal comes long way from its chicken-flicking days
Klamath County has been leading Oregon in using geothermal heat since the time long ago when farmers prepared dead chickens for plucking near what is now downtown Klamath Falls.
A power plant is a natural next step.
A Utah-based company, Raser Technologies, has announced plans for a $35 million plant on six acres of land owned by Liskey Farms in southern Klamath County along Lower Klamath Lake Road. Another 300 acres would be needed for the wells that will tap into natural hot water more than 2,000 feet below the surface. After being used, the water would be reinjected into the aquifer.
Liskey Farms has been an innovative user of geothermal energy, which provides heat to it for greenhouses and a biofuels.
Geothermal heat is widely used in Klamath Falls, including heating Main Street sidewalks, commercial buildings, residences, Sky Lakes Medical Center and OIT. This has been going on for many years, though generally at shallower depths than the power plant will use.
In recent years, improved technology has combined with a concerted push for emissions-free energy that included tax incentives for developers to open the door wider for geothermal development — and for Klamath County to play an important role.
One reason for the company to move quickly is that government incentives will expire at the end of the year.
The Klamath County Planning Commission has approved the necessary resource overlay for the land and a conditional use permit for the power plant.
After construction, the plant would produce 10 megawatts and have two employees on the site. That’s not a big number of employees, but it’s a great addition to the Basin because it takes advantage of something already here, will increase the county’s industrial base, add to the local market for industrial products and increase the county’s property tax base.
The fact that there is a power plant in the local area might even add to the efforts of OIT to expand its Geo-Heat Center, which also includes plans for a power plant and more. Such plants would work hand in glove with local economic development plans built on “green” energy.
Things have come a long way since farmers’ chicken-flicking days at a site that’s now part of Klamath Union High School’s athletic fields. The powerplant is a big step.
Editorial board
Pat Bushey wrote today’s editorials.
The members of the Herald and News editorial board are Publisher Heidi Wright, Editor Steve Miller, Day Editor Marcia McGonigle, Opinion Editor Pat Bushey.
A power plant is a natural next step.
A Utah-based company, Raser Technologies, has announced plans for a $35 million plant on six acres of land owned by Liskey Farms in southern Klamath County along Lower Klamath Lake Road. Another 300 acres would be needed for the wells that will tap into natural hot water more than 2,000 feet below the surface. After being used, the water would be reinjected into the aquifer.
Liskey Farms has been an innovative user of geothermal energy, which provides heat to it for greenhouses and a biofuels.
Geothermal heat is widely used in Klamath Falls, including heating Main Street sidewalks, commercial buildings, residences, Sky Lakes Medical Center and OIT. This has been going on for many years, though generally at shallower depths than the power plant will use.
In recent years, improved technology has combined with a concerted push for emissions-free energy that included tax incentives for developers to open the door wider for geothermal development — and for Klamath County to play an important role.
One reason for the company to move quickly is that government incentives will expire at the end of the year.
The Klamath County Planning Commission has approved the necessary resource overlay for the land and a conditional use permit for the power plant.
After construction, the plant would produce 10 megawatts and have two employees on the site. That’s not a big number of employees, but it’s a great addition to the Basin because it takes advantage of something already here, will increase the county’s industrial base, add to the local market for industrial products and increase the county’s property tax base.
The fact that there is a power plant in the local area might even add to the efforts of OIT to expand its Geo-Heat Center, which also includes plans for a power plant and more. Such plants would work hand in glove with local economic development plans built on “green” energy.
Things have come a long way since farmers’ chicken-flicking days at a site that’s now part of Klamath Union High School’s athletic fields. The powerplant is a big step.
Editorial board
Pat Bushey wrote today’s editorials.
The members of the Herald and News editorial board are Publisher Heidi Wright, Editor Steve Miller, Day Editor Marcia McGonigle, Opinion Editor Pat Bushey.
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jim wrote on Apr 9, 2008 8:12 AM:
WISH THEY WOULD HAVE DONE THAT FOR ME FOR FOREST DWELLING ON ROCK AND JUNIPER LAND "