PacifiCorp to boost geothermal plant

PacifiCorp, the parent company of Utah Power, announced Tuesday it will expand a 23-megawatt geothermal plant in central Utah to generate another 11 megawatts of power.

A megawatt is enough to power about 300 homes.

PacifiCorp Energy signed a $19 million contract with CEntry Constructors & Engineers of Salt Lake City for most of the work.

The Blundell Geothermal Plant, near Milford, Beaver County, has been operating since 1984, using steam from an underlying geothermal field to spin a turbine generator. The steam has to be separated from hot, pressurized brine, but a new energy converter will use the brine heat to generate additional power.

The new unit is expected to start producing power on Nov. 1, 2007.

In a statement, PacifiCorp Energy President Bill Fehrman said the additional renewable power will come "at a very attractive price for our customers."

Ormat Nevada Inc., a subsidiary of Ormat Technologies Inc., will provide the new energy converter.

PacifiCorp Energy generates electricity and handles commercial and energy trading and coal mining for PacifiCorp, now a subsidiary of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. that serves 1.6 million customers in Utah, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California and Wyoming.

MidAmerican bought PacifiCorp March 21 from Glasgow-based ScottishPower. Billionaire investor Warren Buffett controls Des Moines-based MidAmerican through his investment company, Berkshire Hathaway Inc.