pilgrim hot springs: moving an alaska town from resupply to self-reliance

PILGRIM HOT SPRINGS:Moving An Alaska Town from Resupply to Self-reliance

Ethan Berkowitz Project Developer

Nome

Akureyri

Nome Energy Facts

.37/kW

Solving the (Expensive, Imported) Energy Dependence Problem:

• Values and Vision– Energy Self Sufficiency• Goals

– Economic – Affordable Energy – Reduced Utility Bills, Business and Job Development

– Social – Community (fate control), Social Metrics

• Project/Timeline– Resource– Research– Investment– Generation

The Pilgrim Resource

Pilgrim Hot Springs

Nome

Pilgrim Research

Current research builds on efforts undertaken in the 1970s and 1980s

Thermal Imaging

Temperature map of geothermal aquifer from Geoprobe holes (20 to 40 meters)

Drilling Program

Cosmos, August 2008

What we know today

• Location of upflow zone (within ~30 meters)

• Depth to bedrock

• Good estimate of available heat (~20-40 MWth)

• Indication of larger regional geothermal system

Cosmos, August 2008

Next/Current Steps

• Drill one 35 cm (14 inch) diameter hole that will allow us to extract fluid to ‘stress’ the resource and measure response to develop a more accurate reservoir model.

• Pump up to 7500 liters per minute (2000 GPM) (upper limit) for a period of 5-20 days, and discharge at surface.

What We Hope To Do

• Produce at least 2mW of geothermal energy from pilgrim hot springs

• Build a transmission line to Nome• Deliver sustainable, affordable

energy by end of 2014

Acknowledgments(partial list)

Office of Senator Lisa MurkowskiUnited States Department of Energy

Alaska Energy AuthorityCity of Nome/NJUS

Unataaq, llc (Bering Straits Native corporation, Norton Sound Economic Development Association, Sitnasuaq Native Corporation, Kawerak, Mary’s Igloo Native

Corporation, Teller Native Corporation, White Mountain Native Corporation)Nome Chamber of CommerceNaknek Electric Association

Alaska Center for Energy and PowerM-W Drilling

Pilgrim Geothermal, LLC (Potelco)

Questions?

Contact: Ethan Berkowitzethanalaska@gmail.com907-223-2163