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Harry Reid Pushes Nevada As "Saudi Arabia of Geothermal Energy"

Posted by timothy on from the flogging-sand dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Of all the 'mainstream' forms of renewable energy, it seems that geothermal power is always left in the shadows compared to solar and wind power. However, that looks set to change with news that the US Department of Energy will fund geothermal projects in northwestern Nevada and southeast Oregon. With funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, the DOE has stated a 'conditional commitment' to provide a partial guarantee for a rumored $98.5 million loan to the Nevada Geothermal Power Company (NGP). According to US Senator Harry Reid, 'Northern Nevada is the Saudi Arabia of geothermal energy.'"

63 of 369 comments (clear)

  1. According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ... that kind of kills it for me. Any politician making such proclamations must be taken with a pound of salt. Wasn't Nevada also proclaimed as the dumping ground for nuclear and toxic waste?

    1. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by e9th · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, is in danger of losing his long-held seat. He needs the pork badly, and the administration is more than willing to help him out.

    2. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by nebaz · · Score: 4, Interesting

      It makes me wonder, if Senators bring in pork to their state to get re-elected, do you think there would be more pork in general if we repealed the direct election of senators, which some claim would give states more say in the Federal government? As is I think the fact that so much party money is on the line to keep representatives 'pure', which greatly distorts the idea of local elections.

      --
      Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds.There upon the rainbow is the answer to a neverending story
    3. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by Dunbal · · Score: 2, Funny

      And water that is 100% free of bacteria. Oh that? We don't know what THAT is, isn't he kinda cute? But the radiation killed all the bacteria...OH MY GOD WHA

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    4. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by Radres · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Wouldn't senators then be forced to take actions that benefit those in the house, thereby corrupting the system in a different way?

      "You voted against all my bills! I'm not voting for you!"

    5. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      I don't know about how much Reid is in danger. His opponent is on record for a variety of...odd positions: eliminating the US Department of Education, pulling out of the United Nations, getting rid of Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare; wants to protect our purity of essence and precious bodily fluids by opposing fluoridation of water, similarly wants to get rid of alcohol, thinks global warming is a hoax and is for drilling for oil here, there, everywhere. Is also the nutter who thinks overthrowing the duly elected government of the United States via a violent revolution is a good idea. All Reid has to do is frame the campaign that way and it's pull the lever for the nutter or pull the lever for Reid. He'll beat her by 10 points. That's how bad of a candidate Reid is--she should manage the 25% dead-enders at best. Still bringing in more federal dollars isn't a bad idea for Reid, pork or legitimate (but well-timed).

    6. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by iluvcapra · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The senators would be appointed by their state legislatures in a manner that's up to them -- in the 19th century the state legislature would hold a vote, or the governor would make an appointment subject to state senate advice and consent, or whatever.

      The problem with this approach was that it made senate seats a form of patronage for governors and state political machines, and while the people appointed might have been worthy there was zero democratic accountability, and senate appointment was a notoriously corrupt institution -- take the recent Rod Blagojevich nonsense and imagine it were the norm. Eliminating the direct election of senators in order to control "pork" or earmarks, which are themselves only about 2% of the federal budget, and are at least as big a problem with House members, is a pretty extreme solution.

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Baltar.
    7. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by e9th · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yes, Angle is not the candidate the Republican Party wanted. But the latest poll I know of shows Reid trailing.

    8. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by clarkkent09 · · Score: 4, Informative

      She is not crazy at all and if you think huffington post is a reliable source of information on conservative candidates then you are crazy.

      How about having her describe her opinions instead instead: http://www.sharronangle.com/issues/

      Or how about the opinion of the people of Nevada: Angle: 50% Reid: 39%

      --
      Negative moral value of force outweighs the positive value of good intentions.
    9. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by Traze · · Score: 2, Interesting

      That's an interesting argument and I'm hearing more and more about that coming out of the houston area. Do you have any links you'd like to share?

      Link
      One of the foremost references on the Constitution. It includes letters and speeches by some of the founders about each clause. Beware the advanced language usage.
      The link is direct to the clause in question with links the the writings about why the Senators are chosen the way they are. (At least in the physical text that's the way it is.)

    10. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by Traze · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Real Link
      Sorry about that. O_o

    11. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Some of those "Controversial" issues you state might actually have some merit, despite your leftist slant:

      1) The use Department of Education is notoriously inefficient at financial planning; All US public schools must spend their entire budget each year, and cannot store money for future renovations, et al.. This is why when schools need to improve their fascilities, it ALWAYS comes as a bond issue. The reason for this "Cannot save money, MUST spend all of the yearly budget!" is presumably to curb imbezzlement of education dollars. Personally, I think this is silly, as it promotes excessive waste of education dollars, and inefficient spending of education dollars. I would much rather see the primary education system of the US enable a 3 to 5 year budgeting system, whereby school administrators can plan for expansions, rennovations, etc, and would be part and parcel with a complete financial audit at the end of every budget cycle, as the means of curbing both problems. This would keep the Department of Education busy, (nobody said all schools need to be audited simultaneously) and would reduce the number of absurdly expensive bond issues that current are needed.

      2) Pulling out of the UN; I agree! this is a GREAT idea! I admit that I am an isolationist; Being an isolationist country that keeps to itself is MUCH better than being a country that exports toxic waste (both physical, and in terms of law enforcement and political treaties) to other countries en-mass. Ending the affiliation with the UN would make it INSANELY less profitable for US corporations to outsource labor, etc, and would strongly promote the rennovation of internal infrastructures that have been in decline since the 50s.

      3) Social Security(TM) has become the personal piggybank of our BigGovernmentOverlords(TM) for the better part of the century now. When originally created, this was not the case. Current social security has been too heavily compromised by government hentai tentacles to ever be fixed. It DOES need to be scrapped, and re-created with proper safeguards in place. People's retirement savings are NOT the property of the US government, GOD DAMNIT.

      4) Emerging research suggests that people get more than enough fluoride for proper dental health from fluoridated toothpaste and other fluoridated products (Some chewing gums, mouth washes, flossers, etc.), and that additional fluoride in drinking water can actually promote dental DISORDERS, such as Fluorosis, which in addition to making permanently weakened dental enamel, also contributes heavily to late-life osteoporosis, and certain bone cancers. Naturally, the ADA doesnt want to admit that its massive fluoridation projects might actually be DETRACTING from public health, rather than improving it. For a VERY long time, it was taboo to even mention enough criticism to SUGGEST raw research, let alone to point out that it {fluoridation) might not be a good thing to begin with. Urban centers, with access to good dental infrastructure and proper hygine products do not need fluoridation. Places like Apelachia (however you spell that), where people STILL dont have electricity--- are the kinds of places where flouridation is still needed.

      As for the other items, No-- I am against those things. GLobal warming is not a farce, it is easily demonstrated experimentally in a greenhouse. Getting rid of alcohol was proven to be unconstitutional, and caused horrible problems in the prohibition era; (much like what is happening now with the "War on drugs"...) and I don't think I need to explain why increased oil well production is NOT a good thing.

      As for violent overthrow of the "legitimately elected" government; I think there is a rather nice quote there.. Goes something like this:

      The tree of liberty needs to be watered, from time to time, with the blood of tyrants.

      Last I checked, our two party system does not constitute a true democratic election, since our choices are pre-screened by established political groups with deeply rooted agendas. Sounds like as good a time as any to do some "watering."

    12. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by harley78 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Some bacteria can survive quite high levels of radiation, in fact, thrive even.

    13. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by clarkkent09 · · Score: 2, Informative

      Ah, the Harry Reid's "fluoride" strategy. Sure, that will work. I don't know or care about fluoridation in Washoe County but the only information you have is a quote from Reid's team that has been passed around to the media and I don't tend to trust that very much.

      As for the social security, it's an unsustainable system that will have to be reformed soon anyway. She is just being honest about it. And no she does not want to abolish it over night, she wants to phase it out for people entering the workforce now (anybody who paid into the system will still receive the benefits) and replaced with an actual interest bearing retirement savings account which will provide MUCH higher income in retirement for the same payment (12.5% of income) than social security does.

      --
      Negative moral value of force outweighs the positive value of good intentions.
    14. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by Ex-MislTech · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I think he means the funds going into his golden parachute that will not
      be on the table, but under the table.

      There are private dinners and payoffs are not made with checks
      or credit cards, untraceable unofficial money.

      --
      google "32 trillion offshore needs IRS attention"
    15. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by Dunbal · · Score: 2, Informative

      Some bacteria can survive quite high levels of radiation, in fact, thrive even.

            Oh really?

            Not at the doses I am thinking about...

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    16. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by mrchaotica · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The Washoe County Commission in 1992 rejected fluoridation, and Angle said the Legislature should not approve fluoridation in her county without a vote of its people.

      All that indicates to me is that she supports checks and balances between state and local governance, not that she opposes fluoridation.

      Her website itself plainly states she wants to eliminate the department of education and social security.

      Does that mean she's philosophically opposed to education and safety nets for the poor, or -- more likely, I think -- does it mean she supports decentralization of government (i.e., where the state or local governments would control education and provide social safety nets)?

      I don't know anything about this person beyond what I've just read in this thread (and not being a citizen of Nevada, I don't particularly care), but she sounds merely like a supporter of [federalism|checks and balances|states' rights], not a crackpot.

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

    17. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by Cassius+Corodes · · Score: 2, Interesting

      All US public schools must spend their entire budget each year, and cannot store money for future renovations, et al.. This is why when schools need to improve their fascilities, it ALWAYS comes as a bond issue. The reason for this "Cannot save money, MUST spend all of the yearly budget!" is presumably to curb imbezzlement of education dollars

      This is the same for all government organisations and its got nothing to do with embezzlement - its simply the idea that you are given a bucket of money to spend on education and its your job as an administrator to take that money and turn it into education. Now the idea that this hinders capital projects it quite frankly retarded. How about instead of paying it up front from one year's budget they pay it over several years from current and future budgets. What you say? That is how its actually done? No shit. If this cannot be done it is because they dont have enough money to build new facilities and maintain current ones rather than budget inflexibility.

      I would much rather see the primary education system of the US enable a 3 to 5 year budgeting system, whereby school administrators can plan for expansions, rennovations, etc, and would be part and parcel with a complete financial audit at the end of every budget cycle, as the means of curbing both problems.

      This basically already happens.

      Ending the affiliation with the UN would make it INSANELY less profitable for US corporations to outsource labor, etc, and would strongly promote the rennovation of internal infrastructures that have been in decline since the 50s.

      Are you thinking of the WTO? That's not really related to the UN... Not to mention that world trade is a big boon for the US overall, and a return to isolationism would probably destroy the economy.

      Social Security(TM) has become the personal piggybank of our BigGovernmentOverlords(TM) for the better part of the century now. When originally created, this was not the case. Current social security has been too heavily compromised by government hentai tentacles to ever be fixed. It DOES need to be scrapped, and re-created with proper safeguards in place. People's retirement savings are NOT the property of the US government, GOD DAMNIT.

      The government borrows money from the fund and pays interest on its loan. I dont particularly think this is the best way of going about things but its better paying interest to American ppl then to pay it to someone else.

      Naturally, the ADA doesnt want to admit that its massive fluoridation projects might actually be DETRACTING from public health, rather than improving it. For a VERY long time, it was taboo to even mention enough criticism to SUGGEST raw research, let alone to point out that it {fluoridation) might not be a good thing to begin with.

      Not a dentist so I cannot comment on what the research says but since the ADA doesn't have any interest in maintaining the fluoridation of water other than for public heath I cannot imagine they would really give a shit if it was stopped based on research.

      --
      Control is an illusion, order our comforting lie. From chaos, through chaos, into chaos we fly
    18. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by pgmrdlm · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Just like Fox news is not a valid source to link to because it is pure republican bull shit. So is the mother fucking huffingtonpost.com. Its the liberal view wrapped in a different name http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Huffington_Post

      The Huffington Post, also referred to as HuffPo[2] or HuffPost[3], is a liberal/progressive American news website and aggregated blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring various news sources and columnists.[4] The site offers coverage of politics, media, business, entertainment, living, style, the green movement, world news, and comedy, and is a top destination for news, blogs, and original content. The Huffington Post was launched on May 9, 2005, as a commentary outlet and alternative to conservative news websites like the Drudge Report.[5]

      Don't be a fucking hypocrite. If your going to provide a link, try to find an unbiased link. IN other words, your link is bull shit. Not a valid source. Next

      --
      Anonymous comments are as pathetic as the anonymous "sources" that contaminate gutless journalism from the New York Time
    19. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by Third+Position · · Score: 3, Informative

      Why should I want more democracy? There's nothing particularly sacred about democracy. That's the point of the Senate, the founders recognized that mobs can get carried away by stupid ideas, and that's why the Senate was intended to act as a buffer to the House of Representatives. Now, we effectively have two Houses of Representatives, and what's the point of that?

      Further, consider the priorities of an elected official. He gets into office by whoring for votes. His priority is the next election, not how his actions will affect the country decades into the future.

      The point is, elected officials and unelected officials have different incentives. That's why the government was designed to have components of both.

      I actually think it was a mistake to allow direct election of the president. It causes people to concentrate on the election of one politician on whom they have little influence, rather than their local representatives where the views of a relatively few people actually can have significant influence.

      --
      American Third Position
      Finally, a real choice!
    20. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by Mindcontrolled · · Score: 3, Informative

      Ya really.

      Deinococcus radioduransshrugs of acute doses of 10000 Gy and thrives under a constant 60 Gy/h. That's way beyond what your puny machine will offer...

      --
      Ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.
    21. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by chapstercni · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You say "eliminating the US Department of Education" like it is a bad thing!

      I'm all for it.
      I'm for pulling out of the United Nations.
      I'm for getting rid of Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare.
      Floridation of water? Debatable. But, a local gov't issue.
      Alcohol? Local issue.
      Global warming? It IS still being debated. And then, not proven that it is man-made warming.
      Drilling for oil? Please, lets! I am for keeping dollars in the USA, instead of being sent overseas.
      Really, the States Rights vs. Federal Rights is the pivotal issue.

      In the words of Thomas Jefferson, whom helped found the USA.
      ""Most codes extend their definitions of treason to acts not really against one's country. They do not distinguish between acts against the government, and acts against the oppressions of the government. The latter are virtues, yet have furnished more victims to the executioner than the former, because real treasons are rare; oppressions frequent. The unsuccessful strugglers against tyranny have been the chief martyrs of treason laws in all countries." --Thomas Jefferson: Report on Spanish Convention, 1792. "

      http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/quotations/jeff0300.htm

    22. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by nedlohs · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If you want more democracy, you want the Senate to make the filibuster extremely rare, instead of the current Republican practice of filibustering every single Democratic bill, which changes the Constitution's majority (50%+1) requirement into a forced supermajority of 60+.

      Why is a majority threshold "more" democratic than a supermajority theshold?

    23. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by tmosley · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The Department of Education was founded to foster a better educational system in America. Now, 30 years later, American public schools are the laughingstock of the world, and we are at the utter BOTTOM of the list of quality educators in the world, even as our university system, which is NOT under their supervision, is the BEST in the world. It seems to me that we are throwing our money at a problem, and making it worse.

      And of course, you are also making a lot of shit up. I can't believe anyone modded you informative--more like a troll.

    24. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by daem0n1x · · Score: 2, Funny

      His opponent is on record for a variety of...odd positions: eliminating the US Department of Education, pulling out of the United Nations, getting rid of Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare; wants to protect our purity of essence and precious bodily fluids by opposing fluoridation of water, similarly wants to get rid of alcohol, thinks global warming is a hoax and is for drilling for oil here, there, everywhere. Is also the nutter who thinks overthrowing the duly elected government of the United States via a violent revolution is a good idea

      So, that's what he means with Nevada being Saudi Arabia!

    25. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by swillden · · Score: 2, Informative

      That, and considering how the vast majority of states are financially in the red these days

      A small minority of states are in the red. Most states are fiscally responsible and live within their means. Some states even have constitutional requirements to maintain balanced budgets.

      --
      Note to ACs: I usually delete AC replies without reading them. If you want to talk to me, log in.
    26. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      ... but she sounds merely like a supporter of [federalism|checks and balances|states' rights]...

      OMG! It's a libertarian! She wants to take over the government and leave you the hell alone!

    27. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by operagost · · Score: 2, Informative
      James Madison specifically (even sarcastically) cited a public education system as a potential result of abuse of the "general welfare" clause, so I content that opposing the byzantine and wasteful Department of Education is, in fact, quite reasonable. The report that she wants to outlaw alcohol is false. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what the point of her controversial statement was, but Prohibition was a progressive fiasco and I highly doubt that this TEA Party-supported candidate would call for its return. I'm chalking it up to be a stumbling block that even good candidates have: one dumb campaign issue. After all, evoking memories of the organized crime explosion and widespread civil disobedience during Prohibition in defense of the continued ban of marijuana has the exactly the opposite desired effect.

      wants to protect our purity of essence and precious bodily fluids by opposing fluoridation of water

      I'm pretty sure she never made such a stupidly worded statement. Why do you have to make up a straw man? She's simply stated she's against it, and there's scientific evidence that ingesting fluoride is bad for one's overall health. Is it really that difficult for people to brush their teeth in the 21st century USA?

      Is also the nutter who thinks overthrowing the duly elected government of the United States via a violent revolution is a good idea.

      [citation needed] BTW, so did Thomas Jefferson.

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    28. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by operagost · · Score: 2, Informative

      Rasmussen isn't a pollster. It's an arm of the Republican party bent on shaping public opinion via horribly, horribly skewed polls in a race of interest

      Poisoning the well fallacy, AC. Just because you don't like the organization (or man) doesn't mean they're invalid. If Rasmussen polls were garbage, they wouldn't be used much because, frankly, some people depend on the numbers.

      Early polls aren't verifiable, but over time Rasmussen will adjust their polls to be increasingly in-line with legitimate pollsters so their overall ratings are alright.

      [citation needed]

      That Rasmussen (or Raspublican as it's often called) only dares to give Angle a lead of 11 points means she's toast and they know it.

      Or, they're a legitimate organization with accurate numbers. If they were Republican-controlled, wouldn't they want to give her a slightly bigger lead?

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    29. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by operagost · · Score: 2, Informative

      Wow, she wanted to honor the county's right to self-determination. THAT'S REALLY CRAZY!

      --

      Gamingmuseum.com: Give your 3D accelerator a rest.
    30. Re:According to US Senator Harry Reid ... by geekoid · · Score: 2, Informative

      It doesn't mean the link is bad. You just need to check references.

      in fact, Angle said she believed most fluoride used in water supplies could contain "lead, arsenic, [or] mercury." All of which is crazy talk.

      She supports making alcohol consumoption illegal.

      She thinks it's her job to 'protect' people. which from my reading means 'make them behave the way my belief dictates.:

      “I would tell you that I have the same feelings about legalizing marijuana, not medical marijuana, but just legalizing marijuana,” Angle offered. “I feel the same about legalizing alcohol.
      “The effect on society is so great that I’m just not a real proponent of legalizing any drug or encouraging any drug abuse,” she continued. “I’m elected by the people to protect, and I think that law should protect.”

      http://rmcpac.com/viewpoints/new-angle-giving-harry-reid-boot-sharon-angle

      So she doesn't want people to be able to choose to drink alcohol, or ANY drug.She want's her faith determine other peoples behavior. How Anti American is that?

      Yeah, the Huffpo is questionable in many areas, and down write stupid in science. But follow the links, and rad up. That SPECIFIC article is an accurate one.

      She thinks BP
      s disaster is a good reason to deregulate the oil industry. Crazy, ignorant and stupid.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  2. Las Vegas... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Las Vegas is the Saudi Arabia of prostitution, booze, gambling, and insane energy use.

    It looks like Harry Reid is trying to use the Saudia Arabia of geothermanl energy to power the Saudi Arabia of prostitution.

    As long as nobody tries to put a veil on the hookers this plan sounds good to me.

    1. Re:Las Vegas... by Tackhead · · Score: 4, Funny

      Las Vegas is the Saudi Arabia of prostitution, booze, gambling, and insane energy use.

      "Forget your Saudi Arabia! I'm gonna make my own! With hookers! And blackjack! In fact, forget the energy! Aaw, screw the whole thing!"
      - Harry Reid

    2. Re:Las Vegas... by mooingyak · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Prostitution is illegal in Clark County, NV, where Las Vegas is located.

      And yet there are billboard advertisements for it in Vegas.

      --
      William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.
  3. The problem with geothermal by overshoot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    is that unlike wind and solar, it's always on. This makes it much more difficult to explain why it won't meet baseline demand.

    --
    Lacking <sarcasm> tags, /. substitutes moderation as "Troll."
    1. Re:The problem with geothermal by peterofoz · · Score: 3, Funny
      NEWS FLASH 4/1/2015

      Federally funded Nevada geothermal plant sponsored by Harry Reid triggers massive earthquakes in San Francisco and causes the giant Yellowstone caldera in Wyoming to rise another 50 ft.

      http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/15/swiss-geothermal-power-earthquakes-basel

    2. Re:The problem with geothermal by Solandri · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The problem with geothermal is that after you extract the heat from the rocks, it takes time for the surrounding rock to heat up the cool spot you've created. This places a natural limit on the rate you can extract heat energy from a geothermal well, thus making it unsuitable for high population density areas like cities. The geological formations in some areas provide their own natural flow of subterranean water, thus constantly carrying in heat from other distant rocks to your geothermal well. But those are exceedingly rare.

      Regardless, I am very optimistic about geothermal for meeting the energy needs of low population density areas. On top of that, geothermal heat pumps for heating and air conditioning, while not an energy source, improve efficiency so much that in both hot and cold regions of the country, they will typically pay for themselves in 3-7 years.

    3. Re:The problem with geothermal by Dunbal · · Score: 3, Informative

      it takes time for the surrounding rock to heat up the cool spot you've created. This places a natural limit on the rate you can extract heat energy from a geothermal well

            While I'm no expert in the field I daresay that there's a "natural limit" to anything, including the energy produced from an oil burning plant. Surely the output of the plant is an engineering issue, and it's simply a matter of design.

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
    4. Re:The problem with geothermal by FooAtWFU · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yes yes! My geothermal plant design involves burrowing down through the core of the earth and out the other side to the center of the Sun, where it's always warm. I'm currently awaiting a grant to conduct further study, and with luck we can break ground by 2009.

      --
      The World Wide Web is dying. Soon, we shall have only the Internet.
    5. Re:The problem with geothermal by Ungrounded+Lightning · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Federally funded Nevada geothermal plant sponsored by Harry Reid triggers ... earthquakes ...

      Not completely a joke.

      High pressure injection of liquids into faults makes them act as hydraulic jacks with piston cross-sections measurable in square miles, pushing the faults open. If the faults are under even slight crosswise stress that cause earthquakes. (This was first discovered in Denver when the Rocky Mountain Arsenal used a deep injection well to attempt disposing of chemical warfare waste, later researched and documented.)

      Doing it with a liquid that can boil when the rocks are hot means you have less control over the process once the liquid is in place and being expanded by the heat. (IMHO there's also a possibility of activating a volcano.)

      While setting off quakes in northwestern Nevada probably won't bother the faults in San Francisco or Yosemite, it wouldn't be all that friendly to the people within a few tens of miles of the site.

      --
      Bantam Dominique roosters crow a four-note song. Once you've heard it as "Happy BIRTHday" you can't NOT hear it that way
    6. Re:The problem with geothermal by drinkypoo · · Score: 4, Informative

      The problem with geothermal is that after you extract the heat from the rocks, it takes time for the surrounding rock to heat up the cool spot you've created.

      The problem with geothermal power is cleaning up the toxic waste.

      I've said it before and I'll say it again: geothermal power is a total failure on all levels. I live within shootin' distance of The Geysers, the most geothermally active region known to exist on Earth. We have a geothermal plant here which is continually over budget and under-producing. The turbine blades are built by Halliburton, which is a disaster in itself. After they have been in service for a certain period of time, they must be cleaned of buildup of toxics like Arsenic which are released from the vent along with the steam. Most of the hot springs in town have measurable Arsenic content. This is simply pressure-washed off, and the slurry stored in open pits for evaporation. After this process has been repeated a sufficient number of times the pit is covered over and the walls raised. They used to put it in drums and bury them in a field on one of the roads out of town but the drums started leaking and cows were being born with two heads and that sort of thing, so they "cleaned it up". Oh, sorry, THEY didn't clean it up, we did. It was a superfund site; we still have one of those operating in town, for similar compounds. The "solution" was to dig it all up, put in a rubber liner, and bury it again.

      There are other types of geothermal power options, like heat pipes, but all you have to know about them is that they are terribly inefficient (not that any geothermal plant in the world is producing any amazing amount of power) and they don't last, just like the turbine blades in our example. You're always digging things up and replacing them, which is terribly impractical. The simple truth is that solar panels could repay the energy cost of production in under seven years back in the 1970s and if all the money spent on geothermal plants was spent on even PV solar plants we would have produced a lot more power for the same amount of money.

      Anyone promoting Geothermal power for low environmental impact is either ignorant or trolling.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  4. About time! by migla · · Score: 5, Funny

    There are far too many women driving around in Nevada!

    --
    Some of my favourite people are from th US; Vonnegut, Chomsky, Bill Hicks.
  5. Naturally by Pojut · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Of course it is. Since it's your state, Mr. Reid, it couldn't possibly be anywhere else, right?

    That's one of the things I always hated about politicians. They always think their state is the best at ::insert arbitrary thing here::. I got news for you, bud: it's America. Hardly anything here is the best. A lot of it is very good, some of it is even awesome, and some things are even legendary in how amazing they are...but I think saying best is generally pushing it.

    -American who loves his country, which is why he can be honest about it

    --
    Living With a Nerd
    1. Re:Naturally by lawpoop · · Score: 3, Interesting

      That's one of the things I always hated about politicians. They always think their state is the best

      It's not a problem with politicians, it's a problem with the system. The constitution says that a senator represents a state, a congressperson a district. If you want it to be different, we need to have a body that is elected by the American people as a whole.

      --
      Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
      -- Pablo Picasso
    2. Re:Naturally by cowscows · · Score: 2, Interesting

      So what? Every state/district/neighborhood deserves to have people fighting for it. The USA is such a large stretch of land with such a diverse bunch of people/communities, that for many problems there isn't just one solution that's "best for the country."

      --

      One time I threw a brick at a duck.

  6. Saudi Arabia? by denzacar · · Score: 4, Funny

    How much is that in sensible scientific measurements like Libraries of Congress or Football Fields per Square Barleycorn?

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
  7. Re:Geothermal energy ignored? by inanet · · Score: 3, Informative

    Here in New Zealand (only the most thermally active place in the world with people living on it) we use quite a bit of geo-thermal energy, but apparently we are only utilising the tip of the iceberg, although there are plans for more plants to be built... one of the great things about geothermal energy is "waste gold" that builds up in the pipes ;) ... unfortunately along with sulphur and all sorts of less desirable bits and pieces...

    --
    "This is my Sig. there are many like it but this one is mine."
  8. Some More Sources: by BJ_Covert_Action · · Score: 3, Informative

    Here are a few more sources for info. regarding the contract...posted for no other reason than my own annoyance with Inhabitat =P

    DOE Press Release with Media Contact Number

    Sustainable Business Blog, apparently the initial plant will produce 49.5 MW in capacity

    Home website of NGP, the contract winner

    Write up from EON, with quite a bit more info, including contact info. for various parties involved.

    --
    Motorcycles, Robots, Space Gossip and More!
  9. Re:Geothermal by ArbitraryDescriptor · · Score: 4, Funny

    Geothermal isn't really that renewable!

    Once we suck all the heat out of the Earth's core, the mantle will solidify: fusing all the tectonic plates and ending earthquakes and volcanoes once and for all.

    Win/win.

  10. Re:Yellowstone Caldera? by nephilimsd · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Actually, as a resident of Reno (it's not as bad as it sounds.. really) I can definitively say that there is more geothermal energy over a wider area here than in Yellowstone. My understanding is that Yellowstone has a very strong, but very locialized pocket of usable energy, whereas the entire greater Carson-Reno area is tappable for energy. There have been quite a few apartment complexes and neighborhood groups who have pitched together to fund geothermal wells in this area, and effectively end up paying about 15k as a one-time cost to eliminate an electric bill for life (well, the life of the well, anyway). Best part is, because more energy is generated than can reasonably be used by 15-20 houses, the rest gets sold back to the electric company, and NV Energy takes care of maintenance on the well in exchange.

  11. Re:Geothermal by Dunbal · · Score: 4, Informative

    Once we suck all the heat out of the Earth's core, the mantle will solidify: fusing all the tectonic plates and ending earthquakes and volcanoes once and for all.

    Win/win.

          Assuming that were possible (don't worry, it's not), you end up losing the dynamo effect of a liquid mantle, the Earth's magnetic field vanishes, and the solar wind blows the atmosphere off into space. Yeah, really win.

          Nerd card revoked.

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  12. Re:Geothermal by ArbitraryDescriptor · · Score: 4, Funny

    Oh, you misunderstood. I was speaking on behalf of the Earth.
    Win 1: No more painful earthquakes and embarrassing volcanoes.
    Win 2: No more disgusting fungi and parasites mucking about on the surface.

  13. Re:Geothermal by Dunbal · · Score: 2, Funny

    I guess I'm being too literal. The codeine isn't taking the pain away anymore. My bad. You can have your nerd card back but first you have to let go of that female.

    --
    Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  14. Re:Geothermal by ArbitraryDescriptor · · Score: 3, Funny

    But I've never been this close to one before! :(

  15. If the Yellowstone Caldera goes... by voss · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Earthquakes in San Fransisco will be the least of your worries. The last eruption of the Yellowstone caldera 640,000 years ago
    shot 240 cubic miles of rock and dust into the sky.

    1. Re:If the Yellowstone Caldera goes... by Mordok-DestroyerOfWo · · Score: 4, Funny

      The last eruption of the Yellowstone caldera 640,000 years ago

      Wow, I saw you had a low ID, but I never realized they went back that far!

      --
      "Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right" - Salvor Hardin
  16. Hot Rocks by EEPROMS · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Actually when it comes to Geothermal energy production you don't actually need volcanic activity at all. Another method of collecting and converting geothermal energy is the hot dry rocks (HDR) method. The advantage with HDR is that you dont have to install power converters in geologically unstable environs like in iceleand etc thus you can imagine the insurance costs are way lower.

  17. Well, that settles it by DesScorp · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Sharron Angle is fucking crazy. [huffingtonpost.com]"

    Well, if the HuffPuff said it, then I'm sold.

    BTW, if you think Sharon Angle is crazy for wanting to eliminate several departments in the Federal government, and phase out Social Security as it currently exists, then you're going to be mighty shocked at how many crazy people there are.

    --
    Life is hard, and the world is cruel
  18. The ban changed nothing by dbIII · · Score: 2, Informative

    Current generation (ie. already built) breeders are also utter crap in terms of energy production and only really useful for making material for nuclear weapons if you don't already have a huge stockpile of that material or other ways to make it. Iran and North Korea might contemplate them but nobody else would bother - other nations with nuclear ambitions are happy enough with CANDU since they won't need a lot of bombs in a hurry.
    Upcoming technologies such as accelerated thorium on the other hand are reported in the press as breeders but are completely different to dead ends like superphoenix (the French extended a middle digit in the direction of the ban as they can be depended on to do).

  19. Lying Senator by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The actual state most likely to qualify as a "Saudi Arabia of geothermal energy" is Wyoming. Remember the Yellowstone supervolcano? The caldera is tens of miles wide. We need to drill into the magma at a thousand places and extract heat, not only for the energy , but also because reducing the temperature down there relieves the pressure, and makes it less likely that the volcano will go off!

    1. Re:Lying Senator by sjs132 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Or you could end up with a bad movie where drilling results in the volcano going off... Hmmm.... :)

      --
      --- Relax, that mass muderer is just trying to reduce our carbon footprint, one fetus at a time...
  20. Re:Silly by rts008 · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Nevada"

    --
    Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
  21. Yes, I am by twoallbeefpatties · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...then you're going to be mighty shocked at how many crazy people there are.

    Oh, believe me - I AM shocked by how many crazy people there are.

    --
    Libertarians somehow believe that private businesses should be stronger than governments but weaker than individuals.