Companies, professionals recognized during Summit

The Geothermal Energy Association will present its inaugural GEA Honors at an awards dinner August 16 during the National Geothermal Summit in Reno.

The honors recognize individuals and companies for significant contributions to the development of the geothermal industry.

"It's our duty as an association to highlight the efforts of companies and individuals that are advancing geothermal energy by leading the innovation, development and promotion of the industry through community engagement, education and job creation," said GEA's Kathy Kent.

Award categories and the nominees include:

* Technological Advancement (Awarded to an individual or company that has developed a new, innovative or pioneering technology to further geothermal development): Atlas Copco Gas and Process Division; Enel Green Power North America for its acoustical energy dissipaters known as "Silencers"; GeoTek Energy LLC's gravity head energy technology; Nevada Geothermal Power's Blue Mountain Faulkner 1 Plant; Star Energy for its "Wayang Windu" facility in West Java; and TAS Energy Inc. for its new high-efficiency binary expander.

* Economic Development (Awarded to an individual or company that has made a substantial contribution to the development of local, regional or national markets through the development of geothermal systems): GeoGlobal Energy LLC's GGE Chile SpA; Ormat Technologies Inc.; Ram Power Corp's San Jacinte-Tizate geothermal project; and Science Applications International Corporation.

* Environmental Stewardship (Awarded to individual or company that has fostered outstanding environmental stewardship through the use of geothermal systems. These award nominations were evaluated by and will be presented in conjunction with the Environmental and Energy Study Institute): EnergySource LLC/Hudson Ranch 1; NV Energy; and Northern California Power Agency.

* Special Recognition (Awarded to individuals and companies for outstanding achievement in the geothermal industry): Charlene Wardlow of Ormat; Don Campbell, Skip Matlick and Bob Verity of Ormat; Dan Schochet of Ram Power; Geothermal Development Associates; Hezy Ram of Ram Energy Inc; Jonathan Weisgall of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company; Larry Nickerson of Ormat; Marilyn Nemzer of the Geothermal Education Office; POWER Engineers; Wendell Howard of Geothermal Resource Group; and Wendy Calvin of the University of Nevada, Reno, Great Basin Center.

The Geothermal Energy Association is a trade association composed of U.S. companies who support the expanded use of geothermal energy and are developing geothermal resources worldwide.