TAS Energy, SMU among energy award finalists

By A. Lee Graham

TAS Energy Inc. and Southern Methodist University of Dallas, as well as Baker Hughes Inc. of Houston, are among finalists for the 2012 GEA Honors.

Presented by the Geothermal Energy Association, the annual awards program honors companies and individuals that have made contributions to advancing technology, spurring economic development or protecting the environment.

Now in its second year, the program also honors those who have made notable achievements and advancements in geothermal energy.

“The companies and individuals that were nominated and passed screening demonstrate the significant progress being made in the U.S. geothermal industry,” said Karl Gawell, GEA’s executive director, commenting in a news release.

Finalists were named in three categories.

Selected for the Technology Advancement category were Baker Hughes of Houston, EnergySource, ElectraTherm, Enel Green Power North America and TAS Energy, the Dallas company whose San Emidio and Dixie Valley power plants feature modular designs that GEA officials said help increase output without drilling new wells.

Selected in the Economic Development category were GeothermEX and Ram Power-Polaris Energia.

Selected for the Environmental Stewardship category were Geothermal Development Associates, Ormat Technologies Inc. and SNA-Lavalin.

Among eight finalists for Special Recognition honors, given to individuals or companies for outstanding achievement in the geothermal industry, was SMU’s geothermal program, which for more than 42 years has supplied geothermal energy education and trained the next generation of geothermal industry leaders.

The GEA Honors awards dinner kicks off the association’s Aug. 7-8 National Geothermal Summit in Sacramento, Calif....