Milestones

I just posted my 500th tweet and Seth Godin just posted his 3000th blog entry.

Mmm...Home-made Meatball Sub

• left-over sourdough from Old Spaghetti Factory
• 4 turkey meatballs from Trader Joe's
• 1.5 slices Part-skim mozzarella from Trader Joe's
• organic chunky marinara from Trader Joe's

I microwaved the meatballs for 2 minutes; the marinara for 45 seconds; and lightly toasted the bread. I made the sandwich and zapped it for another 30 seconds to melt the cheese. Mmmm.

ANAHEIM PUBLIC UTILITIES BREAKS GROUND WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY

Anaheim to be first city to utilize low to medium temperature geothermal power

ANAHEIM, Calif,- (February 4, 2009) Anaheim Public Utilities has teamed with Raser Technologies to be the first city in the world to use a new source of renewable energy – geothermal power, which uses low to medium temperature heat found thousands of feet below the surface of our earth.

What makes this type of geothermal power most unique is that it utilizes low to medium temperature heat (220 degrees) that is more widely available. Traditional geothermal power is created from much hotter sources of heat (450 degrees), which is harder to find and less available. And, unlike wind and solar, this type of renewable energy is consistent since it has the ability to be produced around the clock - 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Starting in mid February, Anaheim plans to receive 11 megawatts of this clean renewable energy, which is enough electricity to supply approximately 10,000 homes in Anaheim.

“Geothermal energy best meets the needs of the Utility”, said Marcie Edwards, General Manager of Anaheim Public Utilities. “It’s cost effective, reliable, abundant, and very importantly, produces zero emissions. It’s a win-win all around”.

The first of its kind, geothermal power plant is located in the south central desert of Utah. The technology at the plant consists of a closed-loop system that allows the electricity to be generated using steam from the low to medium heat and mixed with a special fluid. Once the special fluid reaches a specific boiling point and flashes to steam it is then channeled through a turbine to generate the power.

This project will help demonstrate how to unlock this nation’s vast reserves of low and medium temperature geothermal energy. It serves as another testament to how public and private partnerships can be an effective means of bringing innovative technology and resources together. In this case, Raser had the technology and Anaheim had the hundreds of miles of existing transmission lines to make it possible for the energy to be delivered to our community.

As California continues to introduce more legislation imposing greater limitations on traditional sources of power, Anaheim is proactively on its way to meet its renewable energy goal of 20% by year 2015.

To learn more about this project or to view a recent story by CNN, visit www.anaheim.net, then go to Public Utilities and click on “geothermal”. For more information please contact Margie Otto, (714) 765-4497 or motto@anaheim.net.