Ground Broken for First Pacific Northwest Geothermal Project

This new binary geothermal power plant will be constructed on the same site where the world's first experimental binary geothermal power plant was constructed and operated by the U.S. Department of Energy between 1974 and 1982.

U.S. Geothermal, which is scheduled to begin production at its new power plant next year, has a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Idaho Power Company for delivery of an average of 10 megawatts (MW) of electricity each month. Ultimately, the site could yield up to 90 MW of electricity, according to studies of the proven energy reservoir.

"This completely clean, green, and renewable energy source will soon be put to work for our Idaho customers," said Daniel Kunz, CEO and President of U.S. Geothermal. "We're excited to show off this advanced new power plant and all of our hard work to harness this unique and efficient power that literally wells up from deep inside the earth."