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Commission approves geothermal exploration drilling; commissioners press for seismic monitoring and water plan
Summary
The commission approved a special use permit for geothermal exploration drilling west of US-95 but asked the applicant to clarify seismic monitoring, water-source plans for drilling and dust mitigation; staff noted master-plan language requiring adequate monitoring.
The Planning Commission approved Special Use Permit SUP26-10 to allow Razer Power Systems/Circ Energy to construct exploration well pads and appraise a potential geothermal resource on multiple parcels west of U.S. Highway 95.
Company representatives said earlier temperature-gradient work showed promising shallow thermal anomalies and that the phase-one program will drill vertical appraisal wells to better characterize the resource. "One of our proposed wells to appraise this resource is essentially a twin" to a previous temperature-gradient well, Daniel Mingus, senior vice president of resource and engineering, said.
Commissioners focused on two key operational areas: seismic monitoring and water sourcing for drilling and dust control. Planning staff noted the county master plan includes a hazard policy requiring monitoring of geothermal activities and that monitoring can be satisfied through existing regional seismic networks or, if microseismic monitoring is required, by installing local instruments. Company representatives explained that using the regional network can detect larger events but that microseismic monitoring (which detects very small events) would require installation of local seismometers and is more costly.
On water, company representatives said they plan to drill a shallow groundwater well for dust mitigation and operational needs and indicated they hold or are acquiring water rights for that use. Staff conditioned approval on compliance with plan requirements and recommended monitoring and mitigation consistent with master plan policy.
The commission approved SUP26-10 with conditions, directing the applicant to meet monitoring and mitigation expectations described in staff recommendations.
