Raser explores geothermal potential

Provo-based Raser Technologies Inc. is teaming up with Utah and its capital city in hopes of developing geothermal power from warm springs in Salt Lake City.

Raser is researching the four warm springs near 900 North and 300 West — Becks, Hobo, Clark and Wasatch — and their potential for low-temperature geothermal electrical generation.

Last month, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker included the $70 million geothermal power plant in the city's list of ready-to-go infrastructure projects that need federal funding. In all, Salt Lake City is requesting a $780 million piece of President-elect Barack Obama's expected $600 billion to $850 billion federal stimulus package, according to a Dec. 19 report of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

"With geothermal power, we have an opportunity to bring the environmental and economic benefits of renewable energy directly to the residents of Salt Lake," Becker said Thursday. "This effort has the potential to make Salt Lake a national leader in energy independence while utilizing a local renewable energy source that is right here under our feet."

Though the project is in the preliminary stages, "Raser fully expects to be able to develop it, and we obviously want to be partners," Becker said.

The governor's office also welcomes the possibility of geothermal generation in Salt Lake City, said Jason Perry, executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development.

"Geothermal energy development provides the opportunity to bring new jobs and investment to the state by capitalizing on an often-overlooked energy resource," Perry said.

Anaheim, Calif., already has contracted to purchase power from the first phase of Raser's new geothermal plant near Beaver, company officials said. The company has eight projects in development in the western United States, as well as one in Indonesia.

"I would like to compliment the state and the city in their efforts to explore clean, renewable electric-power generation within our communities," said Kraig Higginson, chairman of Raser Technologies. "I express our enthusiastic willingness to assist them in their assessment of their geothermal resources and coordination with local utilities."

Raser officials say geothermal energy is a proven and consistent power alternative with the lowest environmental impact among possible sources, emitting no carbon or greenhouse gases.

Inside a binary-cycle power plant, heat from geothermal well water is transferred to a working fluid that flashes to steam at temperatures as low as 57 degrees, according to Raser's Web site.

The steam from the working fluid turns the turbine and generates electricity. The geothermal water is never exposed to the air and is injected back into the reservoir to continue the cycle.

The water temperature of the Salt Lake-area springs fluctuates seasonally between 100 degrees and 108 degrees, according to the Utah Geological Survey.

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