VALE, Ore. (AP) — A Boise, Idaho-based company is optimistic it can build a power generating plant in Oregon near Neal Hot Springs, west of Vale.
But the Argus Observer newspaper in Ontario reported that U.S. Geothermal told Malheur County officials more testing is needed before the company knows for sure.
While production wells drilled to date have gone over the target temperatures of 280 degrees, the company still has to find out if the volume is there to sustain a viable project.
The company is planning on a 22 to 23-megawatt plant, which officials estimate could provide electricity to about 23,000 homes.
