This piece from Nevada Assemblymembers Rich DeLong and Erica Roth ran in the Reno Gazette Journal on November 12th and can be accessed here.
A bipartisan blueprint for Nevada’s energy future: Geothermal delivers | Opinion
Erica Roth and Rich DeLong
Earlier this month, we stood together at the Steamboat Hills Geothermal Complex in Washoe County, a facility operated by Ormat Technologies Inc. We both subscribe to two fundamental principles that cross party lines: Nevada requires clean, secure power, and Nevada requires strong, secure jobs. What we saw at Steamboat Hills, a plant based on more than 30 years of successful history, is a great model of how geothermal power provides on both.
Our visit highlighted the future of American energy. While solar is an essential piece of Nevada’s clean energy puzzle, the most critical element of this facility is reliability. Geothermal provides "always on," base-load power around the clock. This perpetual, natural resource is a pillar of grid stability, offering energy independence and a truly resilient system capable of supporting our growing economy.
The economic and community dividends are just as persuasive, demonstrating how clean energy technology can be a cornerstone of regional wealth. In Nevada alone, Ormat owns 13 geothermal plants with 483 MW of capacity. This massive complex employs nearly 400 highly skilled professionals right here in the state—high-tech, full-time jobs that support Nevada families throughout the region. In addition, these activities have a strong foundation in our society, producing more than $30 million per year in taxes, royalties, and other important economic payments, directly contributing to our state budget and local communities.
This accomplishment is the product of good environmental practice, demonstrating the company's "Full Commitment" to the future in a responsible manner. The Steamboat Hills plant employs state-of-the-art air-cooled binary technology, with the geothermal fluid circulated through a closed, sealed loop system. This method of utilizing the earth's heat economically, while taking good care to safeguard our precious groundwater resources and reduce surface disturbance. This dedication to "Constant Renewal" and sound environmental stewardship is evidence that economic vitality, technological advancement, and environmental stewardship can, and must, coexist.
The Steamboat Hills Complex is a crystal-clear bipartisan victory. It's a homegrown, financially robust energy answer that anchors our grid and sets us on the way toward a cleaner future. By growing our own natural, renewable resources, Nevada is building a strong, long-term energy economy for generations to come.