Author: Admin

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    Humboldt County well shows big promise for geothermal power

    ByAdmin

    Pumpernickel shows limited surface signs of geothermal activity and, while it was briefly explored in the past, the site had mostly been ignored until now….It could be the state’s largest geothermal power facility, supplying reliable, carbon-free electricity to the grid within three years.

    … Zanskar believes there are a lot more conventional geothermal systems that haven’t been discovered in Nevada — geothermal upwellings that don’t reach the surface, he said. “The only way to really discover them is to drill,” Holcomb said.

    … Experts at Zanskar use artificial intelligence to expedite and increase the accuracy of the company’s predictions related to areas for exploration and temperature, DeReuil said.

  • Sen. Cortez Masto on Critical Minerals, Climate Policy, and the Technology of the Future

    ByAdmin

    Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, a Democrat who sits on the Senate’s energy and natural resources committee, expressed frustration with the Trump administration rolling back policies in the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act meant to support critical minerals companies. “If we want to, in this country, lead in 21st century technology, why aren’t we starting with the extraction of the critical minerals that we need for that technology?” she asked.

    At the same time, Cortez Masto also seemed hopeful that the Senate would move forward on both permitting and critical minerals legislation.

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    NCF Meeting: Data Centers in Nevada – Dec. 10th, 2pm

    ByAdmin

    Data centers are coming to Nevada owing to our low cost electricity, tax incentives and a favorable regulatory environment. Join a discussion by leading governmental planning officers, academic researchers, legal strategists, and NGOs (WRI, Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club). No need to register in advance; just copy this link into your calendar for Wednesday, Dec. 10th at 2:00 PM.

    The arrival of data centers can provide jobs and revenues to governments. This development may also negatively impact water supplies, electricity rates and reliability, and …

  • Tapping the Heat Beneath Our Feet

    ByAdmin

    EcoTech Note:  Geothermal power may be a breakthrough clean energy story of the next decade—but only if it survives the gauntlet ahead. In this essay, associates at a venture capital fund connect the dots: costs to build and operate geothermal are dropping fast, pioneers are struggling through the financing “Valley of Death,” and smarter public policy—especially streamlined permitting or strategic incentives—could tip the balance and unleash a new wave of clean, reliable power.

    As 2024 wrapped, reporters declared it a breakout year for next-generation (“next-gen”) geothermal and the year of enhanced geothermal’s rise. In 2025, the momentum continues, with geothermal deemed …

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    TDK Ventures Invests $38m Series A In new geothermal pilot plant

    ByAdmin

    TDK Ventures has invested $38m in a Series A fundraising for Rodatherm, a startup with a new closed-loop geothermal technology.  The money is earmarked for a pilot plant in Utah that will demonstrate Rodatherm’s patented approach to harvesting geothermal heat using refrigerant fluids instead of water flowing through a “closed-loop system.”  A closed-loop system is composed of pipes running down to the hot rock, across the hot rock, and then back up.   By not having the working fluid ever leave the closed-loop piping, Rodatherm can use fluids that they claim transfer heat more efficiently and avoid any fluid losses due to leakage.

  • Oil Giant Saudi Arabia Is Emerging as a Solar Power

    ByAdmin

    The world’s ultimate petrostate is turning to solar power.

    Saudi Arabia is building some of the world’s biggest solar farms, along with giant arrays of batteries to store their electricity till after dark. The rapid rollout is making the country into one of the fastest-growing markets for solar power from a near-standing start.

    The kingdom is betting that sunshine can transform its economy and bolster its coffers. It needs electricity for new tourism resorts, factories and AI data centers. Green energy could also squeeze more value from the fossil fuels that made the kingdom rich. Saudi Arabia burns oil to generate electricity; embracing alternatives frees up barrels for export.

  • Nevada Homeowners: Act Now on Energy Tax Credits

    ByAdmin

    The “Save on Better Appliances” campaign by Rewiring America is helping homeowners take advantage of valuable energy tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act before they expire. The campaign highlights tax credits for:

    • Heat pumps
    • Weatherization and insulation
    • Rooftop solar and battery storage
    • Electric vehicles (EVs) and chargers

    Rewiring America encourages homeowners to act quickly, as many of these federal tax credits are set to expire. The organization has a savings calculator to help you determine your eligibility and potential savings.

  • Emerging geothermal startups advance 24/7 clean energy

    ByAdmin

    When congressional Republicans took a sledgehammer to the Inflation Reduction Act last summer, advanced geothermal startups were largely spared. Drilling for renewable energy appears to be one of the few things that engenders bipartisan support.

    Now, with the uncertainty settled, geothermal companies are announcing deals that promise to pave the way for broader deployment of their technology.

  • Germany’s Balcony Solar Hits 1 Million Milestone

    ByAdmin

    The number of registered plug-in solar devices, also called balcony power plants, is set to reach 1 million in Germany in June 2025, the German Solar Association (BSW-Solar) said on Wednesday.

    According to data cited by BSW-Solar, around 135,000 new devices were put into operation in the first four months of 2025, up by 36% on the year. The capacity of the newly installed balcony power plants increased by about 75% in the same period.

    The growth is expected to continue. According to a survey commissioned by BSW-Solar at the end of 2024, as many as 8% of respondents plan to purchase a plug-in solar device in 2025.

  • Clean Energy Financing Update

    ByAdmin
    • China this year will add eight times as much electric capacity through solar alone as the U.S. will add from all sources, putting the American adversary in a strong position to develop AI and transformative manufacturing.
    • In the race for energy dominance, renewables are playing a key role. Why discourage them?
    • Utility rate increase requests and approvals rise at twice last year’s rate.
    • Op-ed authors urge the EPA to allow green banks to help solve the electricity crisis through public-private investments like community solar.BESS systems are booming in Texas. They store power in slack times for use during peaks, cutting utility bills and boosting reliability.