Ormat Regulatory Affairs Manager Scott Nichols updated Churchill County commissioners July 2 on the company’s local activities, explained how geothermal energy is produced and addressed common misconceptions about the industry. The presentation was informational, and commissioners took no action.
Nichols said Ormat Technologies is exploring seven potential geothermal projects across Churchill County, including sites at Juniper Mountain, Diamond Flat and New York Canyon, as well as proposed expansions at Dixie Valley and Tungsten. Core drilling is underway at Diamond Flat, while exploration continues at the other sites.
“Churchill County is really ground zero for the geothermal industry, especially Ormat in Nevada and in the Great Basin,” Nichols said.
Five geothermal plants currently operate in the county: Brady Desert Peak, Dixie Valley, Stillwater, Tungsten and Salt Wells. Together, the facilities generate nearly 150 megawatts of electricity.
Nichols said geothermal plants can generate electricity 95% to 99% of the time.
“It has the highest capacity factor of any renewable energy we can develop,” he said.
He said Ormat’s binary-cycle power plants produce no direct emissions, return geothermal fluids underground through reinjection and do not consume groundwater during normal operations. According to Nichols, geothermal facilities can create long-term jobs and generate millions of dollars in annual property tax revenue.
Nichols also discussed the challenges of geothermal development, particularly the length of time required to determine whether a project is commercially viable.
“The drawbacks to geothermal are that our timelines for development are very, very long,” he said.
Projects can require years of exploration, permitting and drilling before developers know whether a geothermal resource can support commercial production.
“We’re looking at still a three- to five-year time frame to be able to put a resource onto the grid, so to speak,” Nichols said.
Nichols said he plans to return with additional updates as exploration progresses.
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