Is somebody gonna match my freak? Allow me to introduce you to your next nerdy field trip activity: a geothermal power plant tour. This past Earth Day we took the coveted but still somewhat mysterious Calpine Geysers tour. Let me tell you all about it.
Northern California’s most exclusive reservation is not at a restaurant but touring Calpine, the world’s largest producer of green geothermal energy. The tour is free, starts at the Middletown visitor center, roughly 90 miles north of San Francisco. Calpine’s tour takes you all along the Mayacamas mountains on the borders of Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake County. You’ll learn how steam from natural geysers is converted into clean energy. You’ll see pipelines, huge turbines, cooling towers, and some insane mountain views that aren’t accessible on public roads.
How does geothermal energy work?
In general, geothermal power plants harness the earth’s natural heat to generate electricity and clean power. It begins with the extraction of steam from underground sources, like natural hot springs and geysers. This hot water is pumped to the surface through wells and pipelines into the power plant. As the water is pumped up, it transforms into water vapor. This steam is used to spin giant turbines connected to electricity generators. After the steam passes through the turbines, it’s condensed back into water via a cooling tower, and then sent back into the ground to sustain the source reservoir. Overall, geothermal energy is a renewable and environmentally friendly power source. And it’s somewhat rare because it’s only possible to harness in very specific places and under certain geological conditions to work.
How long is the tour?
The tour takes a few hours so pack a water bottle, snacks, and wear comfortable closed toe shoes. A shuttle will take you from spot to spot, while you enjoy the inside look at how a geothermal power plant works. The staff leading the tours are incredibly knowledgable as well, answering questions throughout the tour. The enormous facility runs 24/7 so you’ll see machines, equipment, and ordinary tasks getting done while on the tour. There are also a few areas of the tour where photography and video recording is not allowed.
Tour cost and booking info
This tour a must-see tour for any Californian interested in engineering or clean power. Calpine Geysers tours are totally free, but also extremely limited and require far advance notice. 2025 tours will be announced November 15 — get the scoop at geysers.com
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