Positive environmental assessment for Baltazor project, Nevada

Baltazor geothermal hot springs, Denio, Nevada (source: flickr/ Ken Lund, creative commons)

The Humboldt River Field Office has published the final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Baltazor Geothermal Development Project. The project will be located approximately seven miles southwest of Denio near Baltazor Hot Springs next to NV State Highway 140, in Humboldt County, Nevada.  The project includes building two geothermal power plants to produce 30 MW of electricity.

The EA analyzed the environmental effects of building two geothermal power plants to produce 30 MW of electricity, an electrical substation, up to 11 total geothermal production and injection wells, 1.8 miles of geothermal fluids pipelines, 1.7 miles of new access road, an aggregate pit, ancillary facilities, and upgrades to an existing 5-mile transmission line. The upgrade to the overhead transmission line would enable the transport of the energy generated to an existing 120kV Harney Electric transmission line to the commercial market.

Project construction would likely require a maximum of 50 workers, with an average of 20 to 30 workers after grading and excavation. Once operating, the Project would have a staff of approximately 15-20 employees. The power plant would be staffed and approximately 1-2 employees may be on-site at a given time.

Scoping documents and details for the proposed Project can be viewed at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2000508/510

The project is being planned by Ormat Technologies.

Source: BLM