The Hudson Ranch I Geothermal Project

摘要

In the beginning there was land Few if any projects can point to the exact tune of their beginning like the Hudson Ranch I Geothermal Project can. It all began one day in the Imperial Valley of Southern California with a visit by John Featherstone and Doug Powell to Valley Pawn-yes, a pawn shop-in El Centra, California. It was in late 2004 and the owner of the pawnshop, a Larry Grogan-yes, me-had worked as a Landman in the Imperial Valley since 1975. Our conversation that day ranged over the geothermal activities in the Imperial Valley for the last 20 years. It turned out two companies, Hannon Armstrong of Annapolis, Maryland, ' and Catalyst Renewables, of Dallas, Texas, had contacted John and Doug to locate land in the Imperial Valley for a geothermal project. John and Larry had shared an office from 1976 to 1978 when both worked for a Joint Venture between Magma Power and San Diego Gas & Electric, a California public utility. Doug had worked for Morrison Knutson in the 1980s on a project for Bear Creek Mining, a division of Kennecott (Copper) and a part of British Petroleum. Larry had been a Landman with Bear Creek during this time and had met Doug. Over the years they had either seen or were aware of each other's careers-the geothermal industry is