Unlike renewable resources such as solar and wind power, geothermal power plants can operate throughout the day and year, which makes them an attractive source in a green power mix. With new technologies, the average life expectancy of a geothermal plant may be extended greatly beyond 30 years. Environmental and Economic Benefits Imperial County is a good case study of how the geothermal industry can benefit poor, rural regions of the state. In a county dominated by agriculture and high unemployment, the 478 MW of geothermal power provides high paying, stable jobs to over 285 people, most of which are local residents. In fact, Cal Energy, the largest of all geothermal companies in Imperial County, is the single largest county taxpayer.
Geothermal power is also a clean alternative to fossil fuel and nuclear power facilities.
Besides conserving our valuable fossil fuels, generating electricity with geothermal energy is nearly non-polluting. While geothermal resources are renewable, over-development of a steam field can lead to a slow decline of the resource. Such was the case with The Geysers. Waste water that was previously released into the Russian River is now being re-injected into wells at The Geysers in order to sustain the steam fields. Environmental impacts of geothermal power revolve around the nature of the resource and the specific technology that is employed to transform the steam into electricity.