Utah company cites milestone in green energy production

Within the next week, Raser Technologies Inc. expects to begin transmitting around 7 megawatts of electricity generated at its new geothermal plant outside of Beaver to the city of Anaheim in Southern California.

Raser is touting the Millard County plant as a breakthrough in geothermal energy production — one capable of generating electricity from low-temperature wells that until now weren’t viewed as hot enough to produce power.

“We’re now ready to begin ramping up the plant,” said Richard Putnam, spokesman for the Provo-based Raser Technologies. “This is a big step for our company, and for geothermal energy production in this country.”

Initially, Raser will be sending Anaheim 7 megawatts of power but that amount will rise to 10 to 11 megawatts during the next several weeks as the company finishes linking additional geothermal wells to the plant.

Salt Lake Tribune