Lake County California Sanitation District

A unique public/private partnership of local, state, federal and corporate stakeholders are constructing the world's first wastewater-to-electricity system at The Geysers. A rare example of a genuinely "sustainable " energy system, three Lake County communities will recycle their treated wastewater effluent through the southeast portion of The Geysers steamfield to produce approximately 625,000 MWh annually from six existing geothermal power plants. In effect, the communities ' effluent will produce enough power to indefinitely sustain their electric needs, along with enough extra power for thousands of other California consumers. Because of the project's unique sponsorship, function and environmental impacts, its implementation has required: 1) preparation of a consolidated state environmental impact report (EIR) and federal environmental impact statement (EIS), and seven related environmental agreements and management plans; 2) acquisition of 25 local, state, and federal permits; 3) negotiation of six federal and state financial assistance agreements; 4) negotiation of six participant agreements on construction, operation and financing of the project, and 5) acquisition of 163 easements from private land owners for pipeline construction access and ongoing maintenance. The project's success in efficiently and economically completing these requirements is a model for geothermal innovation and partnering throughout the Pacific Rim and elsewhere internationally