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Geothermal Energy Exploration in Washington State. Craig W. Collar, P.E. Senior Manager Energy Resource Development. Utility Overview. Municipal corporation of the state of Washington. Located just north of Seattle. Serve a population of ~700,000 and an area of ~2,200 square miles.
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Geothermal Energy Exploration in Washington State Craig W. Collar, P.E.Senior ManagerEnergy Resource Development
Utility Overview • Municipal corporation of the state of Washington. Located just north of Seattle. • Serve a population of ~700,000 and an area of ~2,200 square miles. • Largest of 28 PUD’s in Washington, 12th largest public utility nationwide. • Key customers include Boeing, Naval Station Everett, and Kimberly-Clark Corporation.
Energy Challenge • Service Region Growth • Snohomish County is growing rapidly - ~8,000 new connections/year • Load growth of 15 to 20 average MW/year • Renewable Portfolio Standard • Requires the addition of ~140 average MW of new renewable resources by 2020.
Wind Energy • Challenges: • Intermittent/difficult to predict • Integration issues • Transmission constraints • Increasingly difficult to site projects • Increasing competition for wind energy Can geothermal energy also be part of the solution?
Utility Industry Strategic Fit • Geothermal Power = Clean, renewable, emission-free energy • Meets Washington Renewable Portfolio Standard requirements • Baseload energy • Significant potential
Geothermal Energy: The Baseload Renewable • Meet load growth, achieve I-937 goals, mitigate transmission & integration constraints by developing baseload geothermal energy locally.
Status of Geothermal Exploration in Washington • Historically low power prices. • Little oil/gas exploration. • Rainfall/moisture masks geothermal signatures. • Must Avoid National Parks and Wilderness areas. • Focus on wind. • Lack of Geothermal promotion/visibility? Very little geothermal exploration…but the resource potential clearly exists.
Potential Washington Resources • High enthalpy system indication • Mt. Baker • Rainier • St. Helens - Mt. Adams – Mt. Hood triangle • Indian Heaven KGRA/Skamania County • Snohomish County Area • Glacier Peak • Hot Springs • Mineral Springs
Study Activities: 2007-08 • Updated GIS database utilizing data from historical BPA studies • Existing data review • Temperature with depth maps • Geochemistry • Geology • Fracture/fault mapping • Seismic data • Stress/tectonic regime • Transmission lines • Access/land availability • Gathered new geochemistry data from springs and wells • Preliminary costs: exploration, wells, plant • Potential exploration/development options
Next Steps: 2008-10 • Develop and execute exploration plan • Time table and costs • Determine if risk/cost of exploration well drilling in our region is warranted • Specific site identification • Land/lease acquisition • Permitting • Well drilling plans, specifications, and strategy • Funding opportunities • Exploration well drilling and evaluation • EGS opportunities
Objective: 2015-20 & Beyond • Develop ~ 90 aMW of geothermal energy in/near Snohomish County • Engineered Geothermal System advancement and potential
Questions? cwcollar@snopud.com www.snopud.com