An Oregon company that leases underground hot water supplies in central Nevada told a legislative panel Thursday that it is ready to convert that renewable energy source into power and ship it to Las Vegas.
Geothermal energy uses steam from underground reservoirs to spin electric generation turbines.
Ore. He testified Thursday before the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, which is reviewing issues relating to a regional electric power crisis and Nevada's plans to open its power industry to competition. The committee has been concentrating on looking at ways to help alleviate the current energy crisis in the West by looking at ways to develop new energy sources and to encourage new power generation capacity. Utilities and other electric power retailers can use geothermal power to offset the volatile, rising price of natural gas. Most new conventional power plants rely on natural gas to generate electricity. In addition, geothermal power can compete on a price basis with gas, Munson said.