Geothermal Sunrise: the hot earth steams on a cold winter morning.

Mammoth Pacific’s geothermal facilities were built to help reduce our nation’s dependence on fossil fuels.   That environmental tradition of protecting our natural resources continues today.

Mammoth Pacific’s facilities generate up to 40 megawatts of renewable power, which is enough to power approximately 40,000 homes.   This electricity is created in an environmentally sound manner, protecting our natural resources for future generations.   Because there is no combustion involved, geothermal facilities do not have the emissions associated with fossil fuel-fired facilities.   This means reduced air and global warming pollution and a cleaner environment for the Eastern Sierra.

Conservation is an important part of California’s energy policies, and Mammoth Pacific supports these efforts as a means to achieving sustainability.   We also believe that renewable energy should be a larger component of the state’s power portfolio.

Reducing our Nation's Dependence on Imported Fuel

Renewable energy, such as geothermal power, reduces dependence on fossil fuels and increases our energy security.

In response to the Middle Eastern oil embargo in 1972, Congress passed legislation to encourage the development of renewable facilities such as Mammoth Pacific's geothermal plants.  At Mammoth Pacific, we successfully produce the same amount of power as 500,000 barrels of oil each year—without the environmental impacts.

Now, 30 years after the oil embargo, our nation consumes a greater percentage of foreign imports than we did in 1972!   And in the summer of 2000, California was affected by a shortage of energy caused, in part, by huge swings in the price of fossil fuels.

Diversifying California’s Fuel Portfolio

Currently, the majority of California’s power is generated by fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal and oil.   Just over 10 percent of California’s power is considered to be renewable energy such as geothermal, wind, small hydroelectric, biomass and solar energy.

Source: California Energy Commission

Only five percent of the state’s power comes from geothermal facilities. While geothermal energy produces about 1,900 megawatts of electricity in the state, the California Energy Commission has estimated that California has the potential for an additional 4,000 megawatts of geothermal power.   That would be enough to power approximately four million California homes.

In an effort to help reverse the trend on foreign imports, diversify our energy portfolio, reduce the likelihood of future energy price spikes and protect our environment, many states passed laws aimed at increasing renewable energy in their state.

Renewable Portfolio Standard

In 2002, with strong support from the environmental community, California passed legislation establishing a “Renewable Portfolio Standard.”   This law requires utilities to increase the amount of renewable energy they sell to 20 percent by 2017.   (Legislation to establish a national renewable portfolio standard has also been under consideration in Washington, DC, as well as proposals to create tax incentives to encourage renewable energy development.)

Geothermal energy is a key component of renewable portfolio standards. Geothermal power is efficient and highly reliable—especially when compared to other renewable energy technologies that are heavily dependent on the weather.

Geothermal facilities have an average of 90 percent availability.   At Mammoth Pacific, we have 99 percent availability due to our efforts to stay at the cutting edge of technology.   This means our facilities run 99 percent of the time, providing the state with reliable, baseload power while also allowing for routine maintenance to ensure top performance.   (In comparison, wind projects in the state have 24 percent availability according to the California Energy Commission.)   Geothermal facilities also have a small footprint and can be designed to blend into the landscape and minimize visual impacts.

Improving Air Quality

Beautiful snow covered mountains overlook Mammoth Pacific's geothermal facilities

Reducing our nation’s dependence on fossil fuels has other benefits too. In the United States, air quality continues to be a great environmental concern that threatens the health of millions of people.   Although development of renewable resources is not the total solution to our air quality problems, it is part of the answer.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, electricity produced from geothermal resources in the U.S. prevents the emission of 22 million tons of carbon dioxide, 200,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, 80,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, and 110,000 tons of particulate matter every year compared to conventional coal-fired plants.   In fact, Mammoth Pacific has none of these emissions.

The Energy Information Administration estimates that emissions of carbon dioxide from electricity generation are expected to continue to grow in the energy industry.   More power from geothermal resources would help reverse this trend.

Environmental Recognition

At Mammoth Pacific, environmental protection is one of our top priorities, and we are proud of our record. Elected officials, trade associations, community groups and industry regulators have recognized Mammoth Pacific for its outstanding record on environmental protection and operations excellence. For example:

• In 2003, Mammoth Pacific received the prestigious Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for its multi-year technology research project. This award recognizes "individuals, organizations, and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made notable, voluntary contributions in conserving California’s precious resources, protecting and enhancing our environment, and building public-private partnerships." In 2001, Mammoth Pacific also received a Certificate of Recognition under this same program. Click here for more information about the award.

• Mammoth Pacific was the recipient of the California Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources Outstanding Lease Maintenance Award for 2002, marking the fifth consecutive year that the facility was recognized for its environmental stewardship, safety and resource management. Mammoth Pacific is the only geothermal operation to receive this honor five years in a row. We attribute this to our dedicated employees who work very hard to ensure that we achieve our commitment to protect our natural resources.

• Mammoth Pacific was recognized in 1991 by the U.S. Forest Service for our "commitment to quality geothermal development, sensitivity to natural resource values, and responsiveness to public concern."

• The local group Preserving the Eastern Sierra Tradition of Environmental Responsibility (now called the Eastern Sierra Advocates Network) presented Mammoth Pacific in 2000 with its Seedling Award, recognizing the facility for its compatibility with the local environment.

• In 2000, the respected Geothermal Resource Council issued its esteemed "Special Lifetime Achievement Award" to Mammoth Pacific’s general manager, Bob Sullivan. This was in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of geothermal resources, and excellence in operations and maintenance.

• The California State Legislature issued a resolution commending Mammoth Pacific on the start up of its facilities in 1991, recognizing the facilities’ environmentally sound operations.