Nevada BLM geothermal lease sale concludes with sale of 11 parcels to 7 bidders

McGinness Hills geothermal power plant, Jersey Valley, Nevada (source: flickr/ BLM Nevada, creative commons)

The recent Bureau of Land Management Nevada geothermal lease sale on October 20, 2020 resulted in 11 competitive bids for 23,351.300 acres. The combined bids from the sale brought in $148,009 which will be distributed between the Federal government and Nevada and used for projects like roads, hospitals, and schools.

The sale, held October 20, included 18 parcels totaling 35,232.68 acres in Churchill, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Lyon, Mineral, and Pershing counties.

The largest amount received for a parcel, $20,800.00, was from Baseload Power US Holdings Inc. for 1,600 acres in Esmeralda County. The highest bid was for $42 per acre placed by Ormat Nevada Inc. for 250.45 acres in Lyon County.

The previous lease sale, held in September 2019, generated $637,892 for leases on 102,402 acres. For more details about the geothermal program and sale results, please visit: https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/renewable-energy/geothe….

“Geothermal lease sales support domestic energy production and American energy independence,” said BLM Nevada Fluid Minerals Branch Chief Kemba Anderson. “The BLM’s energy program includes an all-of-the-above approach that includes oil and gas, coal, strategic minerals, and renewable sources that can be developed on public lands.”

Geothermal leases are for an initial 10-year period with the opportunity to extend if diligent exploration and development occur.

Fifty percent of the funds collected as bids, rent and royalties are disbursed to the state, 25 percent disbursed to the county where the lease is located, and 25 percent to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The BLM generated a record $5.12 million from lease sales and production in fiscal year 2018. The geothermal industry on public lands in Nevada contributed $2.6 million in total economic output in fiscal year 2018.

Companies that were bidding included: Ormat Nevada Inc., Baseload Power US Holding Inc., Western States Environment and Resources LLC, Myint Myint Swe, Copland Clean Power, Eavor Inc., Raser Power Systems, Atlas Exploration and Poroduction LLC. LLC. (registered bidders)

Successful bids were made by: Ormat Nevada Inc. (2 parcels), Western States Environment and Resources LLC (1 parcel), Myint Myint Swe (1 parcel), Copland Clean Power LLC (1 parcel), Baseload Power US Holding Inc. (3 parcels), Atlas Exploration and Production LLC (1 parcel), Eavor Inc. (2 parcels)

Source: BLM release