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OCT-01-2013 09:38 FROM:PARADISE BUSINESSCTR 18089652122 TO:9618912 P.5'24
<br /> activity,and must be monitored, again posing risks to aquifers and waterways.;Reinjection of geothermal
<br /> fluids has the potential to contaminate underground aquifers.
<br /> Geothermal's industrial plant complexes cover large areas,including bines,power transmission
<br /> lines,weilfields,sumps and football field sized dump ponds at each well site, 3 foot diameter pipelines,
<br /> and injection wells, Exploration,construction,and continuous operation gener to incessant noise, smells,
<br /> and irretrievably alter the natural qualities of wherever they are located.
<br /> Elsewhere in the world, geothermal's record has also produced environmental harms,with reports
<br /> of toxic atmospheric emissions,harmful health impacts,water pollution,and damaged crops and fisheries.
<br /> Citizen activists from California to the Philippines are fighting geothermal plants. However,discovering
<br /> information raising questions about geothermal's environmental track record is difficult with web
<br /> searches flooded by industry sites.
<br /> Reviewing the wide varieties and impacts of geothermal production els where,technological
<br /> development,and possibilities inherent in our region,we can assess the impac s of different types of
<br /> geothermal energy production upon our natural environment,communities,an quality of life. Questions
<br /> needing to be addressed include: who is the power for and at what risk? Curre tly geothermal industries
<br /> have proposed plants at Newberry Monument near Bend,on the slopes of Mt. efferson on Warm Springs,
<br /> and near Lakeview, among other possibilities. Electrical power produced by t se plants would primarily
<br /> go to California,not the area where plants are proposed,as costs of geotherma production are still unable
<br /> to compete with hydropower from dams. However, as fossil fuels become scaree,and concerns for
<br /> ecologically sustainable energy production sources grow,geothermal speculators hope to cash in,
<br /> acquiring"green energy" status, subsidies,and investments.
<br /> At this point,weighing environmental harms and risks,large scale geothermal electrical
<br /> production cannot accurately claim to be ecologically "green." Reports that it lowly depletes geothermal
<br /> reservoir resources over twenty or more years indicate that it cannot be consid red truly sustainable at
<br /> least not at production levels that require pumping hydrothermal fluids at volu nes in excess of 300,000
<br /> gallons an hour, such as at Mammoth Lakes. On a small scale,as used at Klamath Lakes, Brientenbush
<br /> and elsewhere across the world, geothermal is a welcome natural addition to thermal energy needs. On a
<br /> large scale, the technology needs to correct its environmental harms and be hejd truthfully accountable to
<br /> the ecological well-being of affected communities.
<br /> Ultimately, we need to address the root causes of contemporary global societies insatiable
<br /> demands. More than"sustainable energy sources,"we need sustainable humat societies - with
<br /> ecologically sustainable limits on growth and consumption. Populations cannot continue to exponentially
<br /> grow without disastrous consequences to the quality of life for us all.By reign ng in growth,converting to
<br /> ecologically appropriate and energy efficient structures, building materials,lif -styles, and resource use,
<br /> as an informed community we can best ensure an ecologically viable future for the generations yet to
<br /> come.
<br /> Informed Democracy
<br /> In addressing the growing societal demands for energy development, allusions to geothermal"s
<br /> purported"green"energy, political energy development agendas and legislaticn,and the growing number
<br /> of geothermal exploration and development plans proposed by economically motivated commercial
<br /> ventures; it is helpful to become fully informed regarding geothermal energy exploration and production
<br /> environmental, agricultural,community,and worker safety and health impacts.The following compilation
<br /> of research information on the impacts of'geothermal energy was first comple'ed in 1990, while working
<br /> ,v id., zt consortium of c;on',,rt.arion interest., including Greeopcace and Puget, ouid area ecological
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