Knopp testifies in support of geothermal research lab
State Sen. Tim Knopp (R-Bend) testified Monday in the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources in support of bringing a federal geothermal research facility to south Deschutes County.
The measure, House Joint Memorial 19, would urge the U.S. Secretary of Energy and Congress to site their prospective Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) at the Newberry Geothermal Project.
TheFORGE willconduct research on enhanced geothermal systems andis coveted by five different sites because of its potential environmental and economic benefits. Knopp is chief-sponsoring HJM 19 in an attempt to bring thefacility to the Newberry Geothermal Project to the area.
“This would essentially allow us to have state-of-the-art research on engineered geothermal systems,” Knopp said. “(And) any time you have the opportunity to create family wage jobs in Central Oregon — and especially in those high numbers, especially in the southern part of the county — it’s critical that we pursue those.”
HJM 19 reached the Senate this weekafter passing the House with unanimous support last month. Fellow Deschutes County legislatorand co-sponsor of HJM 19Rep. Gene Whisnant (R-Sunriver) carried the measure there.
“Deschutes County is a prime location to locate this Geothermal Research Lab,” Whisnant said. “Constructing and operating the lab here would produce economic benefits to the region and make Oregon a national leader in researching alternative energy sources.”.
“The DOE estimates that the FORGE lab will be funded at $30 million per year, as well as employ an estimated 301 people during the construction phase and another 100 to operate the lab,” he added.
