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Coso geothermal plant given green light to pump water

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 17, 2009 at 7:48 am

From the Inyo Register:

After a marathon, nine-and-a-half-hour hearing Wednesday, the Inyo County Planning Commission voted unanimously to grant the Coso Operating Company permission to pump water and pipe it nine miles for use at its geothermal power plant to replenish a depleting geothermal reservoir.
There were some changes to the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) after the commission listened to extensive testimony and public comments, but these changes were minor.

Among the alterations was to lower the first year of pumping to 3,000 acre-feet per year with mitigation and monitoring, from the originally requested 4,800 acre-feet annually. If, after the initial year, the models show that there are no significant impacts, Coso will be able to increase the pumping up to the 4,800 acre-feet limit.

So, the hydrology of the area will be stressed by pumping, but at a lower rate.

To understand what is happening to the Rose Valley aquifer hundreds of feet below the surface, a model is crafted based on predictions. But, according to the scientists and consultants present at the meeting, the only way to truly understand what happens below the surface is to pump the water and monitor the aquifer under that pumping stress. The monitoring data can then be used to re-shape and re-calibrate the model so a more accurate picture of what the aquifer looks like can be ascertained.

“We’re glad it was approved,” said Joe Greco, senior vice-president of Terra-Gen, one of Coso’s parent companies, immediately following the commission’s decision. “And after the pumping and monitoring proves what’s going on, we’ll be able to plan accordingly.”

Extensive coverage from the Inyo Register by clicking here.

March 17, 2009 · Filed Under Geothermal Energy, Owens Valley & Mono Lake

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