Developing an Enhanced Geothermal System Resource In East-Central Arizona

Abstract

Navopache Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NEC) is a rural electric transmission and distribution cooperative headquartered in Lakeside, Arizona. NEC provides electric service to over 40,000 consumers in its 10,000 square mile service territory covering eastcentral Arizona and west-central New Mexico. NEC owns and operates 263 miles of 69kv transmission lines and 3,457 miles of 14.4/24.9kv distribution lines. NEC is an “all requirements” customer of the Public Service Company of New Mexico and in 2008 delivered 434 gigawatt hours in retail sales to its membership. NEC and Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC), located in Bullhead City, Arizona, engaged the firm of Black & Veatch Corporation (B & V) in May of 2008 to conduct a feasibility study of geothermal resources within their service territories. Both cooperatives have knowledge that some geothermal resources have been identified in years past within their respective territories. In the mid- 1980’s, NEC attempted to secure funding from the Department of Energy (DOE) to drill an exploratory well in hopes of verifying a resource, but did not prevail in its effort. In April of 2009, B & V and its partner GeothermEx, Inc., of Richmond, California, released the findings of their feasibility study which concluded that “EGS is a viable option within the NEC and MEC service territories on a technical and economic basis”. The feasibility study will be referenced in greater detail within this document. Based on the positive outcome of the feasibility study, NEC has decided to seek funding to drill an exploratory well to further confirm the magnitude of the resource in its service territory. NEC has registered with the Federal websites, Grants.gov and FedConnect, to apply for various funding opportunities announced by the DOE under the stimulus program.