Ormat plans solar PV field to support production at Tungsten Mountain geothermal plant in Nevada

Tungsten geothermal power plant, Nevada (source: screenshot, YouTube/ Ormat)

Alexander Richter 30 Nov 2018

Ormat Technologies has sought approval by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to add a 65 acres solar PV facility to serve parasitic power load for its Tungsten Mountain geothermal power plant in Nevada.

In a release today, by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management announces it has completed a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and is seeking public comments for the proposed Ormat,Tungsten Mountain Solar Project. The BLM is also seeking public comments and input under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for the project. This includes looking for information and identifying historic properties in or near the project area. Public comments will be accepted through December 14, 2018.

This DEA analyzes the proposal by Ormat and potential impacts from the proposed development of this project. Ormat is proposing to construct, operate and maintain the Tungsten Mountain Solar Project in Churchill County, NV.

The proposed project would consist of producing renewable energy to serve some, or all, of the Tungsten Mountain Geothermal Energy Facility’s parasitic power load (and is not considered a commercial or industrial scale facility). The proposed solar PV field would be built in two phases with each phase’s solar PV array covering approximately 65 acres for a total disturbed area of 130 acres. Principal access to the project area is from a northeast trending County Road (Alpine Road) off of U.S. 50. Existing roads would be utilized and no new access road construction is anticipated outside the project footprint.

A copy of the DEA is available in the Carson City District BLM Office and on the project webpage at https://go.usa.gov/xPFez during the 15-day comment period. Please send written comments to: Dave Schroeder, Project Lead, Stillwater Field Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, NV 89701. Comments may also be submitted electronically via the DEA webpage (under the ‘Contact Information’ section), via email to blm_nv_ccdowebmail@blm.govor via fax at 775-885-6147 with the subject heading ‘Tungsten Mtn Solar DEA’.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address or other personal information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment-including your personal information- may be publicly available at any time. While you ask us in your comment to withhold personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. After the public review period has ended, comments will be analyzed and considered part of the decision-making process.

If you have any questions about information and identifying historic properties contact Jason Wright at 775-885-6135 or at the above address. For other information, contact Dave Schroeder at 775-885-6119.

Source: BLM