Governmental costs and revenues associated with geothermal energy development in Imperial County. Special Publication 3241

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5218280· OSTI ID:5218280

Goldman, G; Strong, D

This study estimates the cost and revenue impacts to local governments of three geothermal energy growth scenarios in Imperial County. The level of geothermal energy potential for the three development scenarios tested is 2,000, 4,000 and 8,000 MW--enough power to serve 270,000 to 1,000,000 people. The government agencies involved do not expect any substantial additional capital costs due to geothermal energy development; therefore, average costing techniques have been used for projecting public service costs and government revenues. The analysis of the three growth scenarios tested indicates that county population would increase by 3, 7 and 19 percent and assessed values would increase by 20, 60, and 165 percent for Alternatives No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 respectively. Direct and indirect effects would increase new jobs in the county by 1,000, 3,000 and 8,000. Government revenues would tend to exceed public service costs for county and school districts, while city costs would tend to exceed revenues. In each of the alternatives, if county, cities and school districts are grouped together, the revenues exceed costs by an estimated $1,600 per additional person either directly or indirectly related to geothermal energy development in the operational stages. In the tenth year of development, while facilities are still being explored, developed and constructed, the revenues would exceed costs by an approximate $1,000 per additional person for each alternative. School districts with geothermal plants in their boundaries would be required by legislation SB 90 to reduce their tax rates by 15 to 87 percent, depending on the level of energy development. Revenue limits and school taxing methods will be affected by the Serrano-Priest decision and by new school legislation in process.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Cooperative Extension Service
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5218280
• Report Number(s): UCRL-13800
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150500* -- Geothermal Energy-- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299002 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Geothermal-- (-1989)
530100 -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- Social & Economic Studies-- (-1989)
CALIFORNIA
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COST
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ENERGY SOURCES
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Geothermal Legacy
HUMAN POPULATIONS
IMPERIAL VALLEY
INCOME
INFORMATION
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
NORTH AMERICA
PLANNING
POPULATIONS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SITE SELECTION
TABLES
USA