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GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES COUNCIL Vol. 44, No. 1 Bulletin January/February 2015 38th GRC Annual Meeting & GEA Expo Part Two - The Awards New GRC President New GRC Board Members New Year for Geothermal PERMIT #1698 #1698 PERMIT SACRAMENTO, CA CA SACRAMENTO, PAID US POSTAGE US NON-PROFIT ORG NON-PROFIT fifteen dollars Vol. 44, No. 1 Bulletin January/February 2015 7 President’s Message by Paul Brophy Executive Director Steve Ponder 9 Executive Director’s Message Email: [email protected] by Steve Ponder Communications Director/Editor Ian Crawford 10 Communication from the GRC Email: [email protected] by Ian Crawford Advertising Coordinator Anh Lay 15 Inside Geothermal: North America, Central & Email: [email protected] South America, Australasia, Asia, Africa, Europe, Office & Conference Manager Education, Technology, Climate Change Estela Smith Email: [email protected] by Ian Crawford Librarian 24 38th GRC Annual Meeting, Part Two: Brian Schmidt Email: [email protected] GRC Awards, Poster and Technical Session Graphic Designer Awards, Photo Contest Winners, Student Chi-Meng Moua Leadership Luncheon, Fieldtrip to Mount St. Email: [email protected] Helens, Fieldtrip to Klamath Falls and GEA Expo by Ian Crawford The Geothermal Resources Council 36 Publications, Websites, Videos & Maps (GRC) Bulletin (ISSN No. 01607782) is published as a service to its members by Ian Crawford and the public, with six issues per annual volume. The GRC is an international, non-profit educational association whose 37 Transitions purpose is to encourage research and environmentally sound exploration, development, and utilization of 38 In Memoriam geothermal-energy resources worldwide through cooperation with governmental agencies, academic institutions, and 39 Calendar of Events the private sector. The GRC Bulletin provides a forum for information transfer to the public and among professionals in many fields related to geothermal resources, including geology, exploration, development, electric-power production, and direct-use technologies. The views and opinions expressed by authors in this publication do not necessarily reflect those Advertisers of the GRC or its members. For changes of address or membership information, Barbour Well Inc. ............................................6 please contact us. Capuano Engineering ....................................4 Dewhurst Group ...................Inside Back Cover EGS Inc. .........................................................4 Geothermal Resources Council Geothermal Resource Group......... Back Cover P.O. Box 1350 GeothermEx, Inc. ..........................................41 Davis, CA 95617-1350 Horizon Well Logging ......................................6 Phone: 530-758-2360 Imperial Valley Summit ...................................3 Fax: 530-758-2839 Kenai Drilling ................................................17 www.geothermal.org NBMG ...........................................................40 ORMAT ............................... Inside Front Cover ThermaSource ................................................8 COVER: “The Bulldog” by Andrew Tiedeman - Honorable Mention in the Thermochem, Inc. ..........................................4 2014 GRC Photo Contest. Odin the Weatherford Drilling Tools & Fishing bulldog at the 9,000’ Geothermal Test Printed with soy-based ink Services ...................................................41 Hole 82-36 at NAS Fallon, Nevada, at a facility powered by alternative energy. World Geothermal Congress 2015................14 USA. Taken October 2013. Drilling contractor Barbour Well. January/February 2015 5 President’s Message by Paul Brophy, President of the GRC Bringing You Up-to-Date with What’s Happening in the GRC My first task as the new GRC President is a very Accompanying Persons program, Workshops and many simple one – that is to express gratitude and thanks to Lou more attractions. It lasts for a full week thus making the Capuano for such an excellent job as the GRC President journey down under well worth the effort. for the past two years (2013-2014). He now moves on to The GRC Annual Meeting this year will be in Reno, fill what he has always claimed as being the most enviable Nevada, at the Peppermill Hotel which has always been and restful job in the GRC, that of Past-President. Little a successful venue for the GRC. Lisa Shevenell will be does he know that I plan to have him retract that claim the General Chair so we are assured of a great meeting. within the month. Lou has done a great job of steering We hope to see many of you there. Other domestic GRC our organization through a period of industry uncertainty events will occur as usual during 2015 but with a much and during his watch he oversaw the establishment of our stronger focus from the GRC on our Education programs. new scholarship program, the selection of our permanent We would like to establish workshops on more specific Executive Director Steve Ponder, and building of our technical topics and also extend our education programs student chapters amongst many other achievements. to outside of North America. Again many thanks Lou. Of course, the most critical issue we need to address is We welcome to the GRC Board two new Directors, the lack of growth and development of our U.S. domestic Katherine Young from NREL and Masami Nakagawa market. I am certain it is somewhat of a puzzle to many from Colorado School of Mines. Both will bring new of us in the industry as to why geothermal has not been perspectives to the Board and add significantly to our able to thrive in a marketplace where renewables are in collective experience. We also welcome back Maria growing demand. My personal opinion is that there is Richards from Southern Methodist University – Maria more than a single answer to this question and we need took a short break from the Board in 2012 but clearly she to address the problem on a number of fronts rather than missed the thrill and unrivaled excitement of a GRC Board expecting a single solution. The GRC will work with, meeting and is now back in the fold. We congratulate and strongly support efforts of the Geothermal Energy and welcome all three newcomers while at the same time Association to help the industry overcome these barriers saying a hearty thank you to those who are leaving the and substantially improve its place in the renewables Board. marketplace . This year will be an important one for geothermal So, in summary, we can anticipate a busy and active for many reasons. First and foremost it is a World time ahead. My personal goals as President for the 2015- Geothermal Congress year. This quinquennial Congress, 2016 term will be twofold. Firstly, to further develop dubbed WGC2015, will be held in Melbourne, Australia GRC’s education programs so that they better satisfy from April 19th to 24th and will be hosted jointly by the the needs of our industry and secondly, to help promote New Zealand and Australian geothermal associations. the development of younger members so that they can Being on the Organizing Committee for this event I can begin to take a more significant role in the running of assure you all that it will be a successful and memorable our organization. What I can assure everyone is that I Congress and I can strongly recommend for those who will be willing at all times to listen to, and act on, any have not yet “booked your passage” to do so as soon as suggestions you may have to better provide services to possible. If you have not previously attended a World our membership. Please feel free to contact me at any Geothermal Congress (the 2010 meeting was in Bali, time by phone at (707) 544 0955 or by email at pbrophy@ Indonesia) the format is similar to that of our GRC Annual envgeo.com if you have any suggestions or ideas on how Meeting - Plenary and Technical Sessions, Field trips we can improve the GRC experience for you. n in both Australia and New Zealand, a Trade Show, an January/February 2015 7 Executive Director’s Message by Steve Ponder A New Direction for the GRC The GRC faces great opportunities and The GRC staff is looking forward to working challenges in 2015. But first let’s start the New Year with Paul, Lou, and the new Board of Directors. I by thanking outgoing President Louis Capuano, know we are all on the same page and it will be an Jr. President Lou was a tireless worker and was exciting year. always available for guidance to our Davis staff. He The GRC is looking forward to working with all was very hands on and visited our office at least the members of the GRC on numerous projects this once a month to coordinate activities between the year: Board and the staff. As immediate Past President • Establish relationships with institutions in Lou will remain an active Board member. East Africa, Indonesia, Turkey and Latin There are also several other Board members America that are interested in receiving who will now focus on other activities in the GRC. geothermal instruction and training from the Lisa Shevenell and Charlene Wardlow have spent GRC many years of service on the GRC Board and their • Conduct a Geology and Geochemical one contributions are appreciated. However, both will week seminar and field trip in Yellowstone remain active in the GRC; Lisa is the Chair of the National Park this summer (see page 12) 2015 GRC Annual Meeting in Reno and Charlene • Support legislation in the western U.S. and in will continue to support the industry as an active Washington D.C. that is favorable to existing GRC member. and future geothermal endeavors Every other year the torch of leadership at the • Host informational booths at the Imperial GRC passes to a new President. Paul Brophy has Valley Renewable Energy Summit in been elected as the President of the GRC for 2015- California and the World Geothermal 2016 and he is already off and running. This is the Conference in Melbourne, Australia second tour of duty for Paul. He has over 30 years • Host a great GRC Annual Meeting and GEA of experience in the geothermal industry and brings Expo, September 20-23 in Reno, Nevada to the GRC a wealth of technical and business • Continue to support the growth of student expertise.