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National Geothermal Collaborative. An Overview January 20, 2004. W HO WE ARE.
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National Geothermal Collaborative An Overview January 20, 2004 RESOLVE, Inc.
WHO WE ARE The National Geothermal Collaborative (NGC) is a group of stakeholders interested in geothermal energy development. The Steering Committee is made up of supporters of geothermal energy development, as well as those who see potential for efficient, environmentally and economically sound use of the resource, if specific concerns are addressed. RESOLVE, Inc.
NGC: Steering Committee • Steering Committee membership includes representation from the Western Resource Advocates, (formerly Land and Water Fund),White House Task Force on Energy Project Streamlining, Industry, GRC and GEA, utilities, academia, state and Western Governor’s Association, Departments of Interior and Energy, and the National Conference of State Legislatures. RESOLVE, Inc.
OBJECTIVE • The purpose of the NGC is to ensure the responsible development of geothermal power in the U.S. The NGC will identify issues that impact the use of geothermal power, establish dialogue with key stakeholders, and catalyze appropriate activities. Our vision is an environmentally, economically and politically sustainable commercial market for geothermal power. RESOLVE, Inc.
Where are we now? WORK GROUPS • Impediments to Siting on Federal Lands • Renewable Portfolio Standards, and • Issue Papers. RESOLVE, Inc.
Impediments to Siting Workgroup The Work Group has drafted and will finalize soon a Findings report. This will serve as the basis for convening a workshop or series of workshops to explore identified problems with the goal of refining the options for improving the permitting process (looking specifically for options that advance all interests). Focal points for the work group: • Tribal lands • Native & tribal values on Federal lands • Environmental issues • Workshop(s) to build NGC recommendations In the works: partnering with the Council of Energy Resource Tribes on a number of their Indian Energy Conferences where geothermal is a viable resource, and where there is interest in exploring that resource. RESOLVE, Inc.
Workshop Outcomes • If the workshop(s) produce consensus recommendations that serve the interests of all stakeholders, the Work Group will compile those recommendations and submit them to the NGC for full membership adoption. The NGC will disseminate consensus recommendations and reports to policy-making bodies and all interested stakeholder groups. RESOLVE, Inc.
STATE LEVEL RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STANDARDS • Questions needing answers: How state renewable portfolio standards work; What works and doesn’t work in existing RPS systems; How RPS ought to work; Information from states that have considered and rejected RPS; What principles should guide decision makers considering adoption of a renewable portfolio standard; How geothermal power should fit into a renewable portfolio standard • Report: Creating Geothermal Markets: Evaluating Experience with State Renewable Portfolio Standards (www.geocollaborative.org) RESOLVE, Inc.
Issue Papers Purpose: To inform decision-makers about the geothermal resource (development potential), technologies and policies. Topics: • Benefits of Geothermal Energy • Common Questions • Direct Use • Economic Development • Environmental Impacts • Resource Location • State Policies • Technology and Costs • Siting Geothermal Power Plants and Electricity Transmission Lines RESOLVE, Inc.
Decision Making Members of the NGC are committed to working by consensus. The organization and its members recognize that the credibility and authority of the NGC’s work products derive from the fact that they were developed through the cooperative efforts of a wider range of concerns and perspectives. RESOLVE, Inc.
Decision Making - Documents Each Work Group will seek first to educate its own members, the members of the NGC Steering Committee and the full membership of the Collaborative. If the Steering Committee determines that the product is acceptable as a resource document (a document with no consensus recommendations), the NGC staff will disseminate the report to NGC members and other interest groups. If this effort produces a consensus report the NGC will use the recommendations to communicate with the Federal Interagency Task Force, state and federal policy makers, agency officials, the geothermal industry, utilities and advocacy groups. RESOLVE, Inc.