In an earlier post, we discussed The Geysers geothermal operation in the Sonoma and Lake Counties. This steam field and its power plants are part of the Calpine Corporation*, the Nation’s largest renewable geothermal producer. As part of it’s outreach role, Calpine established the Calpine Geothermal Visitors Center, to educate the public on geothermal energy production and what makes The Geysers location unique.…
Understanding Maps
The time has come for a over of our mapping services to clear the way for further development of handy tools for our users. As such, this month we have rolled out a new map format to better allow our users to quickly peruse geothermal energy leases by disposition. In order to keep the maps as clutter free as possibly,…
Understanding Lease Ownership
We receive lots of emails from people who find their name or a relative’s name on our site and want to know if this means they have some right to the land listed under that name. The short answer is, “if you have to ask, then probably not” but the complete answer deserves the time and attention that is best…
Understanding BLM Administrative Areas
We have added a new way to browse and explore leases: by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Administrative Area. To give context to this new feature, we wrote this handy explanation. Summary Nearly a quarter of a billion acres – about one-eighth of the landmass of the USA – is administered by the BLM. These public lands & resources contributed…
Old Faithful Geyser of California
Many of us have made the journey to Yellowstone to observe Old Faithful. Fewer are aware of California’s contribution to the name: the Old Faithful Geyser of California. This roadside attraction in Napa County has a rather apt name, given the geyser’s regular eruptions. At the time of our visit, eruptions averaged 10 minutes apart and 20 feet high. This is…
The Geysers Geothermal Operation
Along with its famous, sprawling vineyards, Sonoma County holds another notable natural resource, less known to tourists but a point of mystery and fascination to locals: The Geysers. The Geysers are tucked away in the folds of the Mayacamas Mountains, ranging along the Sonoma and Lake county borders. Within the 45 square miles of steam fields are 333 steam wells feeding…
Understanding Townships
This entry focuses on a part of our earlier discussion, Understanding Location Data. For greater context on what we will be addressing, please read that post first. One of the more confusing aspects of the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) is the concept of “townships.” A “township” can refer to two different things. Both are part of the PLSS measurement system but have…
Understanding Location Data
Claims handled by the Bureau of Land Management are not mapped by latitude and longitude, as many maps now use. Instead, many of these claims harken back to an older form of surveying called the Public Land Survey System (PLSS), a measurement system that may seem confusing to the uninitiated, but was a great step forward in the time that it…
Welcome!
We are excited to have launched the Thermal Zones! There is a lot of thermal energy collection that occurs across the US. While much of this is occurring on public lands, few people are able to discover the “who,” “what,” and “where” of public thermal energy claims. Though this is a matter of public record, we aim to make it a matter of a…