Politics & Government

Thompson, 2 Other North Bay Leaders Tout Geothermal Energy

Healdsburg's U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, Petaluma's Lynn Woolsey, and Fairfield's John Garamendi urge federal government to maintain revenue sharing with counties from geothermal plants, such as The Geysers.

who represents Healdsburg in Congress, and John Garamendi, D-Fairfield, co-authored a letter to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction,  urging them to “maintain the current revenue sharing for counties as it pertains to geothermal receipts.”

 “The geothermal energy produced in California’s counties is not only good for our environment, it reduces our dependence on foreign oil and helps our economy by spurring green job creation,” said Thompson. “The best way to reduce the deficit is by creating jobs because more jobs means greater revenues and less need for government assistance."

Thompson's letter comes just a week or so after Sonoma County Board of Supervisors OK'd a major expansion plan at The Geysers north of Healdsburg.

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It is in reaction to a proposal by Joint Select Committee for the federal government to discontinue or reduce sharing proceeds from geothermal royalties with local counties.

"If a community invests in developing geothermal energy, they deserve to get their fair share in returns," Thompson said. "I am strongly against cutting counties’ share of geothermal revenue because that means cutting jobs, crippling future green job growth, and stifling our economic recovery – all of which will only make our deficit larger.”

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In addition to Thompson and Garamendi, another North Bay member joining in the call to preserve geothermal energy revenue sharing was U.S. Rep.  Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma. 

 Woolsey said geothermal energy is "exactly the kind of renewable resource we should be investing in to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and point the way toward a sustainable future,” Woolsey said. "I join my colleagues in urging the Super Committee to preserve these subsidies, which support green jobs and help localities continue delivering vital services.”

Garamendi agreed.

“Geothermal energy is a crucial clean resource for creating jobs and securing our energy independence,” Garamendi said. “It is in our economic and national security interests to make our energy in America, which is why it’s critical for the federal government to continue cultivating an environment for geothermal development.”

Other congressional supporters were: Mark Amodei, R-Carson City, Nev.; Shelley Berkley D-Las Vegas; and Bob Filner, D-San Diego.

Kelly Cox, Lake County administrative officer, said the geothermal royalties were "extremely important to Lake County," he said. "It is absolutely essential that the federal government continue allocating a portion of these revenues to counties in order to help mitigate the local impacts of geothermal development.” 


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