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County acknowledges suspension of three geothermal projects, highlights potential economic impact
Summary
County officials said BHE Renewables suspended three geothermal projects (Black Rock, Elmore North and Morton Bay). Staff and supervisors described projected job and economic impacts and urged continued efforts to advance geothermal and Lithium Valley opportunities.
County officials told the Board of Supervisors that BHE Renewables (referred to in the meeting as BHE Renewables/BHU Renewables) has suspended three proposed geothermal projects—Black Rock, Elmore North and Morton Bay—and county staff described the potential economic and employment impacts cited in developer and third‑party analyses.
Deputy CEO for Natural Resources Barry Beam read a county statement acknowledging the suspension and saying the three projects together represented about 357 megawatts of net baseload renewable energy, a projected creation of more than 1,500 construction jobs and roughly 83 permanent operational jobs, and a 30‑year economic impact the county quoted as $3,820,000,000.00. Beam told the board the company had encountered obstacles in procurement of power, permitting timelines and transmission that led to the decision to suspend work on the projects.
Why it matters: County staff framed the projects as an opportunity for local jobs and economic activity and said their suspension is a setback for regional clean‑energy development. Supervisors responded with expressions of frustration and calls for collaboration to keep regional energy and Lithium Valley initiatives moving.
Exact phrasing and attribution: Beam said the projects “represented the expansion in Imperial County of 357 megawatts net of base load renewable energy” and described the projects’ anticipated job and economic impacts. He also said the county remains committed to responsible development of geothermal and Lithium Valley opportunities.
Board response: Several supervisors spoke in reaction. Supervisor Ryan Elliot Kelly described the news as “very upsetting” and urged stakeholders to look for solutions and to “leave your egos at the door” in supporting Lithium Valley and related projects. Another supervisor expressed similar concern that lawsuits and opposition from some groups had impeded project progress; that supervisor said the setbacks threaten local jobs and training pipelines.
What the record shows and next steps: The county statement acknowledged the suspension and invited continued collaboration with state and local partners to address permitting, transmission and procurement obstacles. The county did not announce a specific new timeline or alternative developer commitments in the public meeting. The county’s formal press release and staff materials are the reference sources for the numeric estimates and for any subsequent updates.
