Ormat's Steamboat geothermal complex near Reno

What is Geothermal Power?

Many technologies have been developed to take advantage of geothermal energy -- the heat from the earth.

This heat can be drawn from several sources, including hot water or steam reservoirs deep in the Earth, geothermal reservoirs near the Earth's surface, and the shallow ground near the Earth's surface that maintains a relatively constant temperature of 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit.

This variety of geothermal resources allows them to be used on both large and small scales. A utility can use the hot water and steam from reservoirs to drive generators and produce electricity for its customers.

Other applications apply the heat produced from geothermal activity directly to various uses in buildings, roads, agriculture, and industrial plants.

Still others use the heat directly from the ground to provide heating and cooling in homes and other buildings.

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Nevada ranks second in geothermal resources among the lower 48 states.

An assessment of Nevada's resources by the Geothermal Task Force of the Western Governors Association Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative showed the commercial geothermal potential for Nevada ranged from 1,488 megawatts to 2,895 megawatts.

Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power Geothermal Projects

Brady Geothermal

A 21.5-megawatt plant in Fernley, NV, owned by Ormat Nevada Inc. and operated by Bradys Power Partners.

Beowawe Power

A 15-megawatt plant located in Beowawe, NV, owned by Beowawe Power LLC and operated by Caithness Operating Company LLC.

Yankee Caithness Joint Venture

A 12.5-megawatt plant located in Steamboat, NV, owned by Ormat Nevada Inc. and operated by Steamboat Hills LLC.

Steamboat I

A 5-megawatt plant located south of Reno, NV, owned by Steamboat Geothermal LLC and operated by Ormat Nevada Inc.

Galena 3

A 20-megawatt plant located south of Reno, owned by Ormat Nevada Inc. and operated by ORNI 14 LLC.

Soda Lake II

A 11.39-megawatt plant located in Fallon, NV, owned by AMOR IX, and operated by Constellation Operating Services Inc.

Soda Lake I

A 2.7-megawatt plant located in Fallon, NV, owned by AMOR IX, and operated by Constellation Operating Services.

Homestretch II

A 0.69-megawatt plant located in Yerington, owned by Wabuska Geothermal Power Plant and operated by Homestretch Energy LLC.

Galena 2

A 10-megawatt plant located in Churchill County, owned by Ormat Inc. and operated by Steamboat Hills LLC.

Steamboat II

A 12-megawatt plant located south of Reno, NV, owned and operated by Ormat Nevada Inc.

Desert Peak Geothermal, Project No. 2

A 13.7-megawatt plant located in Fernley, NV, owned by Ormat Nevada Inc. and operated by ORNI 3 LLC.

Homestretch I

A 0.73-megawatt-plant located in Yerington, owned by Wabuska Geothermal Plant and operated by Homestretch Energy LLC.

Steamboat III

A 12-megawatt plant located south of Reno, NV, owned and operated by Ormat Nevada Inc.

Steamboat I A

A 1-megawatt plant located south of Reno, NV, owned by Steamboat Geothermal LLC and operated by Ormat Nevada Inc.

AMOR II

A 2.6-megawatt plant located in Empire, NV, owned by Empire Farms and operated by Empire Geothermal Power LLC.

Richard Burdette (formerly Galena I)

A 20-megawatt plant located in Steamboat, NV, owned by Ormat Nevada Inc. and operated by ORNI 7 LLC.