The Bureau of Land Management has approved the Crescent Valley geothermal energy production facility and transmission line, a development that could add up to 30 megawatts to the energy grid.
That amount of energy is enough to supply electricity to more than 33,000 homes, according to federal estimates.
The project will include the construction and operation of one power plant, a photovoltaic solar field, 17 additional geothermal fluid production and injection wells and well pads, new and improved access roads, an aggregate pit, geothermal fluid pipelines, an electrical gen-tie line, a substation, a switching station, and related support facilities.
Geothermal energy is seen as a key component of long-term U.S. energy goals.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, one megawatt from a geothermal facility can provide electricity for roughly 1,104 average American homes each year.
The BLM stated that geothermal development on public lands contributes to U.S. energy security and economic stability. In line with Executive Order 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” geothermal projects are part of efforts to increase domestic energy output and maintain U.S. leadership in global energy markets.
The BLM manages geothermal leasing, exploration, and development across about 245 million surface acres of public lands and 700 million acres of federally owned subsurface mineral estate, primarily in the western United States.
Additional information and planning documents can be found on the BLM National NEPA Register and the BLM Nevada Geothermal Energy website.
