AltaRock halts experimental drilling at The Geysers

<p>AltaRock Energy Inc. has stopped its experimental geothermal drilling project at The Geysers in Lake County after running into difficult drilling conditions, the company said Wednesday. </p><p>AltaRock will continue working on its technology and look for other drilling locations, it said. </p><p>The deep drilling project prompted concerns from neighbors in Anderson Springs, who said it could trigger larger earthquakes in the area, which is already subject to shaking from geothermal development.</p><p>The Sausalito company and some seismologists said there is no increased risk of earthquakes from Alta Rock’s project.</p><p>Late last year, the project received $6.25 million in financing from the U.S. Energy Department. It proposed to produce renewable energy by fracturing heated rock at the bottom of a deep hole and pumping water through the cracks to generate steam.</p>