The Geysers taps solar power

<p>The Northern California Power Agency has completed a solar energy system to generate electricity for a pump station supplying water to one of its geothermal plants at The Geysers.</p><p>The $8.2 million solar array taps the sun for power PG&amp;E previously provided to the pump station. The 2.2 million kilowatt hours of electricity generated annually is equivalent to the power needed for 300 homes.</p><p>The pump station supplies recycled wastewater from Lake County to a geothermal plant near the City of Clearlake. The NCPA injects the wastewater into the ground to help replenish geothermal steam fields while also providing a disposal solution for Clearlake.</p><p>A second, similar solar project under construction near Middletown will power a second NCPA geothermal plant at The Geysers. For more than 25 years NCPA has operated four geothermal power plants at The Geysers.</p><p>Based in Roseville, the power agency serves 17 cities and special districts in central and northern California including Ukiah and Healdsburg.</p><p>-- Michael Coit</p>