File #: 24-633    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Ceremonial Item Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 5/30/2024 In control: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
On agenda: 6/4/2024 Final action:
Title: 9:15 A.M. - Presentation of Proclamation Commending Calpine Corporation on Forty Years of Power Generation
Sponsors: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Attachments: 1. Calpine Forty Years Commendation_2024, 2. Public Comment_JimSteele, 3. PublicComment_MarieBeery, 4. PublicComment_RebeccaHarper

Memorandum

 

 

Date:                                          June 4, 2024

 

To:                                          The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors

 

From:                                          Board of Supervisors

 

Subject:                     Presentation of Proclamation Commending Calpine Corporation on Forty Years of Power Generation

 

Executive Summary:

 

COMMENDING CALPINE CORPORATION ON
FORTY YEARS OF POWER GENERATION

WHEREAS, June 5, 2024, marks 40 years since Calpine Corporation was founded in California, and Calpine Corporation now owns and operates the majority of the largest producing geothermal field in the world, located in Lake and Sonoma Counties; and

WHEREAS, Calpine’s operations at The Geysers now employ over 300 people, a majority of which reside in Lake County, with about 150 full-time contractor jobs, contributing significantly to the local economy through property taxes, royalties, goods and services; and

WHEREAS, Calpine is active in the community by supporting local emergency response units, partnering with area organizations, charities, schools and maintaining a visitors center available for community events, and these efforts draw tourists to the area and educate the public on the benefits of geothermal power; and

WHEREAS, by consistently donating locally, participating in events, supporting local initiatives, joining public discussions, including key Lake County committees such as the Geothermal Advisory Committee, the Seismic Monitoring Advisory Committee and the Geysers Air Monitoring Program, Calpine is an actively engaged community partner in Lake County; and

WHEREAS, Calpine has teamed with the County of Lake to build the nation’s first recycled water-to-power project - the Southeast Geysers Effluent Pipeline project has been providing an environmentally responsible way to dispose of treated recycled water, preventing its discharge into local waterways and providing a sustainable source of steam for geothermal power operations that has help sustain generation capacity at The Geysers for over 26 years; and

WHEREAS, Calpine Corporation is America’s largest generator of electricity from natural gas and geothermal resources, with operations in competitive power markets serving customers in 22 states, Canada and Mexico, providing over 26,700 megawatts of generation capacity; and

WHEREAS, Calpine is the nation’s largest renewable geothermal power producer, operating 13 geothermal power plants generating up to 725 megawatts of green, baseload energy around the clock; and

WHEREAS, Calpine is at the forefront of California’s clean energy revolution, investing in battery storage projects statewide to bolster grid reliability and support the transition to renewable energy sources - with a total of 2,000 megawatts of battery storage systems operating or in advanced development, Calpine is playing a pivotal role in securing California’s energy future; and

WHEREAS, through innovation, Calpine’s consolidation of The Geysers’ steam fields and power plants is continuing to sustainably harness geothermal power from a natural, clean energy source, heat from steam produced one and a half miles below the earth’s surface, to produce electricity.  Geothermal Energy from The Geysers is continuing to help meet California’s bold greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, that the Lake County Board of Supervisors congratulates Calpine Corporation on 40 years of environmentally responsible power production, its outstanding financial and volunteer contributions to our area communities in which it operates and the innovation, professionalism and expertise of its employees who work hard daily to ensure the sustainability of The Geysers and continuation of green geothermal power production in Lake County for years to come.

 

PASSED AND ADOPTED this 4th day of June 2024.

 

If not budgeted, fill in the blanks below only:

Estimated Cost: ________ Amount Budgeted: ________ Additional Requested: ________ Future Annual Cost: ________ 

 

Consistency with Vision 2028 (check all that apply):                                           Not applicable

Well-being of Residents                                           Public Safety                                                                Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery                     

Economic Development                                           Infrastructure                                                                County Workforce                     

Community Collaboration                      Business Process Efficiency                      Clear Lake                                                               

 

Recommended Action:                      Presentation of Proclamation Commending Calpine Corporation on Forty Years of Power Generation