renewable energy – Enviro Updates

Could idle wells at The Geysers be a clean power solution?

July 13, 2026

Jeff Quackenbush, NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL

A new generation of geothermal technology has proven itself in field testing in Northern California, where a state-funded demonstration at The Geysers suggests old and underperforming wells could become a faster, lower-impact path to more clean electricity.

A California Energy Commission report published in April found that GreenFire Energy’s advanced geothermal system, tested in a well at the Socrates plant, also known as Unit 18, could help unlock more than 200 megawatts (200,000 kilowatts) of potential additional electricity production in idle geothermal wells across California, enough to power over 200,000 homes. The test used a closed-loop, pipe-in-pipe heat exchanger rather than the conventional method of pulling steam or hot water from the reservoir.

The demonstration matters because California has struggled to expand geothermal power even as the state increasingly needs clean electricity that runs around the clock. Solar and wind have grown rapidly, but geothermal can generate during winter storms, at night and during multi-day periods when batteries are depleted.

“We’re working to build the renewable energy resources that will keep the lights on through the winter when solar and wind are not producing and batteries are empty,” said Geof Syphers, CEO of Sonoma Clean Power. “Geothermal is one of those key resources.”

Climate Change & Energyclosed-loop geothermal, GeoZone, Geysers geothermal field, renewable energy, Sonoma Clean Power

New 25-megawatt Geysers geothermal plant comes fully online

June 22, 2026

Jeff Quackenbush, NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL

“Despite rapidly rising demand for renewable energy and the abundance of geothermal resources in California, geothermal power generation is declining,” the [CEC] report said.

Calpine Corp. has completed a 25-megawatt expansion at The Geysers geothermal area in the North Coast, increasing the amount of around-the-clock renewable electricity available to California communities and supporting growing demand for reliable clean energy.

The project adds enough generating capacity to power more than 25,000 homes annually and follows Calpine’s completion of a 38-megawatt energy storage system at the underground steam field in 2024.

The Geysers, which spans Sonoma and Lake counties, is the world’s largest operating geothermal complex and has supplied energy to California for more than 65 years. Houston-based Calpine, now part of Constellation Energy, is the largest operator at The Geysers, with 13 power plants there. Output from all plants in the field averages more than 700 megawatts.

Climate Change & Energygeothermal, Geysers geothermal field, renewable energy

California reaches new record clean energy milestone

July 15, 2025

Paul Rogers, BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

California has hit a new record for clean energy.

Solar, wind, hydropower and other carbon-free sources made up 67% of the state’s retail electricity supply in 2023, the most recent year that data is available, according to new statistics released Monday by the California Energy Commission.

The total is an increase from 2022, when it was 61%. And it exceeds the prior record of 64%, set in 2019.

Under a state law signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown in 2018 aimed at reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to climate change, California is required to reach 100% renewable and carbon-free electricity by 2045.

Solar, wind, geothermal, large hydropower, biomass and nuclear energy are allowed to count under the law.

The new milestone comes as renewable energy is facing several headwinds. Earlier this month, Republicans in Congress passed and President Trump signed a bill that removes and reduces many of the tax breaks, federal grants and other incentives that were put in place by President Biden for states, private companies and homeowners to expand renewable energy and electric vehicles.

Climate Change & Energybiomass energy, electricity, geothermal, hydroelectric, nuclear power, renewable energy, solar, wind power

Op-Ed: Looking locally for renewable energy

May 13, 2025

Geof Syphers, PRESS DEMOCRAT

As the new federal administration’s policies begin to unfold, it’s clear that real climate solutions will primarily be driven at the local level. It’s also clear that shifting from fossil fuels toward renewable electricity is made more difficult in California because of our sky-high electric rates. Community-owned power providers like Sonoma Clean Power are tackling both challenges — climate change and cost.

One way Sonoma Clean Power works to keep electric bills in check is by advocating at the California Public Utilities Commission for more effective wildfire prevention expenditures. We believe PG&E should focus on the most critical repairs first, not the easiest or most lucrative. We also believe PG&E needs to better justify any new rate increases, which is why we’ve started carefully checking their math. By advancing solutions to make rates reasonable, we can help everyone afford the switch to electric appliances and vehicles.

Los Angeles Times columnist Sammy Roth suggested shifting the expense of undergrounding power lines from electric bills to the state’s general fund. Such a move could lower overall costs for both low-income and most middle-income customers, making electric appliances more appealing and helping us reduce fossil fuel use faster. Sonoma Clean Power is studying how to make this approach viable, because affordable rates are essential for speeding up climate progress.

Climate Change & Energyemissions reduction, geothermal, Geysers geothermal field, renewable energy

Constellation Energy nears $30 billion deal for Calpine, major player in Geysers geothermal

January 9, 2025

Ryan Gould, Dinesh Nair, Matthew Monks and David Carnevalli, BLOOMBERG

Constellation Energy Corp. is nearing an acquisition of Calpine Corp., people familiar with the matter said, in what would be one of the biggest ever deals in the power generation sector.

Baltimore-based Constellation is in discussions with Calpine’s private equity owners about the terms of a transaction that could value the company at about $30 billion including debt, according to the people. A deal may be announced in the coming weeks, they said.

Calpine operates the majority of power plants in The Geysers geothermal field straddling Sonoma and Lake counties in the Mayacamas mountains.

Climate Change & EnergyCalpine, Constellation Energy, electricity, Geysers geothermal field, renewable energy

Op-Ed: Sonoma County leads on climate policy

December 22, 2024

John Burns, PRESS DEMOCRAT

As world leaders convened at the annual U.N. climate conference in November, scientists reported that carbon dioxide levels in the earth’s atmosphere had reached another record — 423 parts per million, more than 50% higher than preindustrial levels.

As a result, 2023 was the hottest year ever recorded and 2024 in on track to be even hotter. The cause: Humanity’s unabated burning of coal, oil and natural gas has unleashed massive amounts of CO2.

The result is more frequent and intense wildfires, prolonged droughts, hotter heat waves, increasingly destructive hurricanes, deadlier floods, ocean acidification, sea level rise, species extinctions and collapsing fisheries.
Empty
John Burns

According to climate scientists, unless immediate action is taken to rapidly phase out fossil fuels in favor of clean, renewable energy, our worsening climate poses grave threats to human civilization in the decades ahead.

But such critical action is not happening fast enough. Despite Congress having adopted historic climate legislation two years ago, global energy demand is growing faster than clean energy is expanding.

If only the world was following Sonoma County’s lead.

Climate Change & Energyelectric vehicles, emissions reduction, renewable energy

New bill critical to unlocking advancement toward increased geothermal power generation

September 30, 2024

Mary Callahan, PRESS DEMOCRAT

The much-anticipated statute is the key to unlocking expanded development of clean, renewable geothermal energy in and around The Geysers, officials say.

An obscure state bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last week could not seem less important. Or interesting.

Let’s be honest.

It describes how counties can now serve as lead agencies for environmental review of geothermal exploratory projects in California. Yawn.

But local officials say the much-anticipated statute is the key to unlocking expanded development of clean, renewable geothermal energy in and around The Geysers, advancing green energy goals here and across the West through more efficient and sustainable next-gen technologies that could be incubated here.

At stake is the chance for Sonoma Clean Power, the majority electrical supplier in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, to phase out remaining dependence on aged, highly polluting natural gas power plants that plug the supply gap when nightfall and unsuitable weather reduce availability of solar and wind power.

New geothermal energy approaches proposed for use in the Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino region could ensure a round-the-clock supply of renewable, 100% emission-free power for local consumers and for folks outside the area in the future, as well.

Climate Change & Energyfossil fuels, geothermal, renewable energy, Sonoma Clean Power, The Geysers