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New Google geothermal electricity project in Nevada could be milestone for clean energy

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New Google geothermal electricity project in Nevada could be milestone for clean energy


(AP) – An advanced geothermal project has begun pumping carbon-free electricity onto the Nevada grid to power Google data centers there, Google announced Tuesday.

Getting electrons onto the grid for the first time is a milestone many new energy companies never reach, said Tim Latimer, CEO and co-founder of Google’s geothermal partner in the project, Houston-based Fervo Energy.

“I think it will be big and it will continue to vault geothermal into a lot more prominence than it has been,” Latimer said in an interview.

The International Energy Agency has long projected geothermal could be a serious solution to climate change. It said in a 2011 roadmap document that geothermal could reach some 3.5% of global electricity generation annually by 2050, avoiding almost 800 megatonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

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But that potential has been mostly unrealized up until now. Today’s announcement could mark a turning point.

Fervo is using this first pilot to launch other projects that will deliver far more carbon-free electricity to the grid. It’s currently completing initial drilling in southwest Utah for a 400-megawatt project.

Google and Fervo Energy started working together in 2021 to develop next-generation geothermal power. Now that the site near Winnemucca, Nevada is operating commercially, its three wells are sending about 3.5 megawatts to the grid.

The data centers require more electricity than that, so Google signed other agreements for solar and storage too. It has two sites in Nevada, one near Las Vegas and the other near Reno. Michael Terrell, who leads decarbonization efforts globally at Google, said the company is looking at using geothermal energy for other data centers worldwide as a portfolio of carbon-free technologies.

“We’re really hoping that this could be a springboard to much, much more advanced geothermal power available to us and others around the world,” he said.

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Google announced back in 2020 that it would use carbon-free energy every hour of every day, wherever it operates, by 2030.

Many energy experts believe huge companies like Google can play a catalytic role in accelerating clean energy.

Terrell noted the company was also an early supporter of wind and solar projects, helping those markets take off.

“It’s a very similar situation. Now that we’ve set a goal to be 24/7 carbon-free energy, we have found it will take more than just wind, solar and storage to achieve that goal,” Terrell said in an interview. “And frankly to get power grids to 24/7 carbon-free energy as well, we’re going to need this new set of advanced technologies in energy. Looking at this deal with Fervo, we saw an opportunity to play a role in helping to take these technologies to scale.”

The United States leads the world in using the Earth’s heat energy for electricity generation, but geothermal still accounts for less than half a percent of the nation’s total utility-scale electricity generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In 2022, that geothermal power came from California, Nevada, Utah, Hawaii, Oregon, Idaho and New Mexico.

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Those are states traditionally thought of as having geothermal potential because there are reservoirs of steam or very hot water close to the surface in the West.

But Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said earlier this year that advances in enhanced geothermal systems will help introduce this form of energy in regions where it’s been thought to be impossible. Granholm was announcing funding for the industry.

Last year, the Energy Department launched an effort to achieve “aggressive cost reductions” in enhanced geothermal systems. This month, in announcing $44 million to advance geothermal deployment nationwide, DOE said the United States has potential for 90 gigawatts of geothermal electricity — the equivalent of powering more than 65 million American homes — by 2050.

Enhanced geothermal companies, including Fervo, are now going after heat deeper below ground, unlocking potential in many more places. Latimer is a former drilling engineer in the oil and gas industry.

Drilling technology and practices drastically improved during the shale boom that transformed the United States into a top oil and gas producer and exporter. But there has been very little tech transfer from the oil and gas industry to geothermal, said Sarah Jewett, vice president of strategy at Fervo.

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“They were using all of the old, for lack of a better word, janky stuff from old-school oil and gas development,” she said. “We basically just went to the oil field service companies and said, ‘Give us all your best stuff.’ And we have been using all of the modern drilling technology to do our development.” That has led to far greater efficiency and lower cost, she said.

In a presentation at ClimateTech 2023 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Latimer talked about how Fervo is pioneering horizontal drilling in geothermal reservoirs. In Nevada, Fervo drilled some 8,000 feet down, turned sideways and drilled about 3,250 feet horizontally.

By drilling horizontally, Fervo can reach much more of the hot reservoir, instead of having to have to drill many vertical wells.

Fervo pumps cold water down an injection well, then over hot rock underground to another well, the production well. The path between is created by fracking, or fracturing the rock. The water heats up to nearly 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) before returning to the surface. Once there, it transfers its heat to another liquid with a low boiling point, creating steam. The pressure of steam expanding spins a turbine to produce electricity like in a coal or natural gas-fired plant. The geothermal water, now cooled, is put back down the injection well to start the cycle again, in a closed-loop system.

Well tests this summer were very favorable, according to Fervo. Latimer wants to replicate them now in as many places as possible, as quickly as possible, to help transition away from coal, oil and natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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The venture capital firm DCVC invested $31 million in Fervo last year, said Rachel Slaybaugh, a partner there. They did it, she said, because Fervo was ready to add power to the grid while competitors weren’t there yet. Slaybaugh said it’s a plus that Latimer used to run a drill rig— it was the right team, who knew what kind of company they were building.

Both Fervo and Google said geothermal is valuable as an “always-on” clean technology that can be scaled up before 2030 as the world tries to cut its greenhouse gas emissions. Fervo’s next project, in Beaver County, Utah is slated to begin delivering clean power to the grid in 2026 and reach full production in 2028.

“This is unlocking something deeply sought after in the market today as we transition away from fossil fuels, and that is, round-the-clock renewable energy,” Jewett said.



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Nevada

Shame! Nevada's Students More Likely To Cheat Using AI

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Shame! Nevada's Students More Likely To Cheat Using AI


Nevada’s students are among the most likely to cheat using AI to complete essays and schoolwork.

A recent study shows that Nevada’s students are among the most likely to cheat using AI, or artificial intelligence. Our state’s students aren’t the worst cheaters in the nation, but the Silver State did make the top 10.

Without a doubt, AI is becoming a problem in many fields and industries. Folks in Hollywood and other entertainment fields are worried about losing jobs to artificial intelligence.

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The problem is surfacing the most on social media and news outlets where deep fakes are fooling millions of people around the world. AI programs can make anything look so authentic; false videos and audio tracks will even fool many experts.

Of course, students have been trying to cheat on exams, homework, projects, and essays since ancient times. Some students will do anything to find a shortcut to success. It may hurt them in the long run, but they end up getting the grade or degree they crave.

Nevada One Of The Top 10 States Whose Students Cheat Using AI

Now, AI is becoming a major problem in all levels of education. In fact, a recent study conducted by the AI productivity platform Plus Docs reveals that Nevada’s students are among the top 10 states where students search for ways to cheat using AI.

For this particular survey, Plus Docs looked for internet searches using 13 different search terms relating to AI essay generation in each state. It turns out students residing in southern U.S. states are more likely to cheat using AI.

Texas takes the top spot in this study, averaging 484.8 searches per 100,000 residents. That’s way above the national average of 300 online searches for every 100,000 people in the state.

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The rest of the top five states where students are more likely to cheat using AI are Georgia in second, averaging 471.6 searches. Florida ranks third with an average of 461.6 online searches for help using AI. In fourth, it’s Mississippi (453.1), and then Louisiana in fifth (406.2).

Next up, it’s our home state of Nevada in sixth with an average of 387.9 searches per 100,000 residents. West Virginia (#7), New York (#8), Hawaii (#9), and Tennessee (#10) round out the top 10 states where students are more likely to cheat using AI.

So, which American state’s students prefer to write essays without the help of artificial intelligence? That honor belongs to the students in Montana.

Experts say using artificial intelligence can really help students learn more about a topic. However, they should not be using AI to write essays or to cheat on exams. Students that cheat do so at their own peril because educators are becoming more sophisticated in spotting the use of AI.

Now, feel free to scroll down for more content which may interest you.

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Larry Martino has been the afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ since 2007. He is also Music Director and Assistant Program Director. He’s been a professional radio broadcaster since 1980, serving as on-air talent, Program Director, and Music Director during his career. As a content creator for 96.3 KKLZ, Larry specializes in writing articles about music, recording artists, movies, food/restaurants, and hockey.



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Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board issues warning about mislabeled products

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Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board issues warning about mislabeled products


LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board is issuing a public health and safety bulletin over mislabeled cannabis products.

According to the board, the following cannabis packages passed laboratory testing. However, they were mislabeled at a 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD when it was actually a 2:1 ratio of THC to CBD.

The THC was labeled correctly but the label shows 10mg of CBD when it was tested at only 5mg CBD per serving.

The board says this affected the following products/lot numbers:

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  • Kynd Balance Black Cherry (H) 1:1 THC:CBD Gummies 10mg 10pk
    KBC31A029347 / 1A404030000520A000078196
    KBC31A029347 / 1A404030000520A000078199
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078027
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078009
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078005
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000082107
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078010
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078011
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078007
    KBC31A028280 / 1A40403000017D5000016839
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078008
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078023
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078006
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078022
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078020
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078024
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078026
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078013
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078012
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078014
    KBC31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000078015
  • Kynd Balance Black Cherry (H) 1:1 THC:CBD Gummies 10mg 10pk
    KFLO31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000081443
    KFLO31A028280 / 1A404030000520A000082099

According to the board, the affected packages were sold at the following valley facilities between May 26, 2024 and June 21, 2024.

  • The Dispensary at 5347 S. Decatur Boulevard in Las Vegas
  • The Dispensary at 50 N. Gibson Road, Suites 170 and 175, in Henderson
  • The Dispensary at 8605 S. Eastern Avenue in Las Vegas

The board is advising consumers to exercise caution when consuming the cannabis that is the subject of this notice.





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Nevada HS State Champion Valentino Montegrande Commits To Rollins College (2024)

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Nevada HS State Champion Valentino Montegrande Commits To Rollins College (2024)


Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.

Valentino Montegrande of Henderson, Nevada, has announced his commitment to further his education and swimming career at Rollins College. Montegrande is a recent graduate of Bishop Gorman High School, and will arrive in Winter Park this upcoming fall for the 2024-2025 season.

I am incredibly grateful to announce my commitment to pursue my athletic and academic future at Rollins College! This opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of my parents and Prada and Chanel. I also would like to thank Coach Michael and Coach Bob for always pushing me past my limits. As well as, Coach Walker for making all of this a reality. Above all, I thank God for blessing me with talent, perseverance, and opportunities that have led me to this chapter in my life! Go Tars!!”

Montegrande, a butterfly specialist, trains and competes year-round with the Sandpipers of Nevada under coach Michael Kinross. He’s a Futures qualifier in both the 100 and 200 fly, and currently owns best times of 50.20 and 1:51.40 which he set at Speedo Sectionals this past December.

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Last summer Montegrande capped off his long course season at the Western Zone Senior Championships, where he advanced to finals in both fly events. In the 100m, he notched a personal best time of 58.43 en route to a 20th place finish, while in the 200m he stopped the clock at 2:11.87 for 21st overall. He also earned a second swim in the 100m back, where he clocked a personal best of 1:01.98 to take 41st.

More recently, Montegrande represented his high school at the Nevada High School State Championship (5A). He took home the state title in the 100 fly, where he logged a 50.36 to clear the field by nearly two seconds. He was also 4th in the 100 back (52.47) and delivered lead-off splits of 24.17 and 21.92 in the 200 medley & 200 freestyle relays, respectively.

Top SCY Times

  • 100 back – 51.92
  • 50 free – 21.85
  • 100 fly – 50.20
  • 200 fly – 1:51.40

Rollins College, currently led by head coach Walker Thaning, is a Division II program in the Sunshine State Conference. Thaning is new to the position, as he recently took over after former head coach Julianne Lehner stepped away mid-season. This season, the men’s team took 4th at the 2024 Sunshine State Conference Championship with a total of 428 points.

Montegrande’s current best time in the 200 fly would have earned him a spot in the B-final at this year’s meet, putting him in position to be an immediate scorer. Rollins’ Luke Dinges took home the title in the 200 fly, as he clocked a 1:44.92 to win the event by over a second. 

Montegrande joins Sam Pugh and Corbin Songer in Rollins’ incoming class next fall. 

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If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].

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