Ormat Technologies, Inc. announced it will accelerate geothermal exploration work this summer on Mount Spurr following Alaska Governor Sean Parnell’s signing of Senate Bill 243. Originally, the annual royalty rate paid from geothermal production on state lands was a minimum of 10% of gross revenues. This bill significantly reduces that rate to the same level paid on Federal land.
 
“Alaskans want to live and work where they have access to reliable and affordable energy,” said the bill’s sponsor Senator Lesil McGuire. “By reducing the royalty rate on geothermal power, we acknowledge the unusually high costs of geothermal development in Alaska but still protect the State’s interests. This bill will ultimately lower the cost of clean, reliable power to the ratepayers.”
 
“SB 243 provides the initial regulatory framework that is critical to attracting private sector investment capital necessary to develop Alaska's vast and very promising geothermal resources,” said Rep. Mike Hawker. “The geothermal resource in south-central Alaska has the potential to replace nearly one-third of our region’s electrical generation that is currently dependent upon a nearly depleted supply of natural gas from Cook Inlet. Geothermal resource development is one of the routes to our future energy security and SB 243 is the first step down that road.”
 

ClimateMaster has introduced the new Tranquility (TAH) Air Handler Series with sizes in the 26, 38, 49, and 64 MBH range. Tranquility air handlers are specifically designed and matched for use with the Tranquility indoor and outdoor geothermal split systems, making them an ideal choice for hi-efficiency retrofits. When paired with a split unit, the TAH has the highest energy efficiency ratings of any system on the market today and uses the environmentally friendly refrigerant, Earthpure HFC0410A. It also exceeds ASHRAE 90.1 and Energy Star 3.0 efficiencies, and meets federal requirements for the 30% tax credit on installation costs.

TAH units are fully convertible upflow, downflow, horizontal, as well as right and left downflow, making them ideal for remote applications such as a crawl spaces or attics. Other features include condensate over-flow protection, 230v-115v compatibility, bi-directional thermal expansion valve, control transformer with circuit breaker protection, large removable access panels, and dehumidification mode for high latent cooling. Options include electronic thermostat and auto-changeover thermostat with 3-stage heat, 2-stage cool, indicator LEDs, and a 10-year limited labor allowance. 

ClimateMaster
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