[ News Release picture montage ]

For immediate release: May 13, 2002
Media Contact: Percy Della - 916-654-4989

Lakeport Ceremony Celebrates Lake County Geysers Project
What: The California Energy Commission presents a check for $4.05 million to Lake County as part of additional state contribution to the Southeast Geysers Effluent Injection System.
Where: Old Courthouse Building, 255 Main Street, Lakeport
When: 11 a.m. Friday, May 17, 2002
Who: Steve Larson, Executive Director of the Energy Commission will present a ceremonial "big check" to Assemblywoman Virginia Strom-Martin and Senator Wesley Chesbro (or their representatives). The big check (and the real one) will be handed over to Lake County officials led by County Supervisor Jeff Smith and Steve Brodnansky, special district administrator for Lake County Sanitation District.
Why: Through the Southeast Geysers Effluent Injection System (SGEIS), Basin 2000, Lake County disposes of its effluent wastewater by treating it and infusing the liquid through pipeline to the flagging Geysers geothermal steam field.

Lake County Sanitation DistrictÕs Phase 2 of the project extends the existing 21-mile Phase 1 pipeline from the Lakeport Northwest Regional Treatment Plant to the Clearlake Southeast Regional Treatment Plant. Phase 2 will increase treated effluent wastewater injection to the Southeast Geysers to help extend the life of the steam field and increase geothermal power plant production by about 10 to 20 megawatts.

In 1999, the Energy Commission awarded a $1.0 million grant from its Geothermal Resources Development Account (GRDA) grant to Lake County to fund a portion of construction costs of Phase 1. Governor Davis, as part of his overall effort to find new renewable sources of electricity signed AB 29x in April 2001. AB 29x allocated $4.5 million to the Energy Commission for expenditure to complete Phase 2 of the system.

Funding for the project comes from a variety of sources, including the United States Department of Energy, the State Water Resources Control Board, Northern California Power Agency and the federal Economic Development Administration.

For further information, contact: Steve Brodnansky, special district administrator, Lake County Sanitation District, 707-263-0119.

# # #

| News Releases Main Page | Commission Homepage | Site Index | Search Site | Links | Glossary | Contact Us |