November 29, 2002

Geothermal plant OK'd for California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- The federal government approved a geothermal power plant in northern California, reversing an earlier decision, but required the developer to avoid areas important to environmentalists and American Indian tribes.

The 48-megawatt Fourmile Hill project is needed because of the nation's and California's drive for more domestic and more renewable energy, said Assistant Secretary of the Interior Rebecca W. Watson.

A tribal and environmental coalition already is suing to block the plant near Medicine Lake and will continue its opposition after Tuesday's decision.

"It's another betrayal by the federal government of another promise to the tribe," said Michelle Berditschevsky, environmental coordinator for the Pit River Nation and spokeswoman for the Native Coalition for Medicine Lake Highlands Defense. "The site is extremely sacred to the tribe and has been for at least 10,000 years."

The plant will produce enough power for about 50,000 homes by drawing naturally heated water from the earth, then reinjecting the water to be reheated and reused. Calpine estimates it will operate for 45 years.

Opponents noted most of the power will go to the Bonneville Power Administration, which serves Washington, Oregon and Idaho power users. Nonetheless, the California Energy Commission gave San Jose-based Calpine Corp. a $20 million grant for the project.