Geothermal energy speaker at Sisters Library

Albert (Al) Waibel, owner of Columbia Geoscience in Hillsboro, will be presenting an illustrated lecture on geothermal energy in the Mt. Newberry area at Sisters Library in the Community Room at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 20.

Waibel has over 35 years experience with geothermal exploration and development in North and Central America, Asia, Africa and Europe. He is a co-author of the geothermal section of the "Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology." He has developed and taught numerous courses on exploration for geothermal systems, interpretation of hydrothermal minerals, data collection, and on interpretation and real-time application of well-site data to private industry and government agencies.

Waibel is a member of the American Geophysical Union, the Geological Association of America, Society of Economic Geologists, and the Geothermal Resources Council. He is on the advisory board of International Renewables Corporation and he also currently serves as president of the Pacific Northwest Section of the Geothermal Resources Council.

He also assisted SUNEDCO with the discovery of the geothermal field in Dixie Valley, Nevada, which has a sustained production of 60 megawatts; and is currently assisting Davenport Power Co. with the exploration of geothermal energy on Newberry Volcano, Oregon. In his spare time, he also consults for Presco on the development of the geothermal field at Humboldt House/Rye Patch in Nevada.

With all that long-term experience in geothermal research, Al Waibel will increase your knowledge of geothermal energy on January 20 at the Sisters Library. He will be the first speaker of the Friends of the Sisters Library Diane Jacobsen Speaker Series. It's a free presentation; come early to be sure of a seat.