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23 Geo. Int'l Envtl. L. Rev. 97 (2010-2011)
Environmental Mitigation Aspects of Water Resources in Geothermal Development: Using a Comparative Approach in Building a Law and Policy Framework for More Sustainable Water Management Practices in Canada

handle is hein.journals/gintenlr23 and id is 99 raw text is: Environmental Mitigation Aspects of Water Resources in Geothermal Development: Using a Comparative Approach in Building a Law and Policy Framework for More Sustainable Water Management Practices in Canada KAMAAL R. ZAIDI* ABSTRACT Canada is embarking upon new renewable energy sectors such as geothermal energy. But with this new development comes environmental impact upon its natural resources, particularly water resources. This paper explores geothermal energy development in the context of environmental mitigation measures for more sustainable water resources by comparing geothermal energy law and policy between the United States and New Zealand, with the intent of establish- ing similar mitigation measures in Canada. These common law jurisdictions were chosen for their more mature legal regimes from the perspective of sustainable water resource management and environmental mitigation. The paper first describes geothermal energy development from exploration and drilling to power plant energy applications, and then explores the legal aspects of geothermal development. The paper examines the latest developments in geothermal law and policy in the context of sustainable water environmental mitigation in the United States and New Zealand, and comparisons are made with British Columbia, Canada's most active geothermal jurisdiction. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction......................................... 98 A. Research Question and Methodology..................... 99 II. Geothermal Energy Development in the United States and New Zealand ......................................... 100 III. The Impact of Geothermal Development on Water Resources and Environmental Mitigation Measures ......................... 104 * Kamaal Zaidi earned his J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law (2004) and his L.L.M. in Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law (2010) and B.Sc. in Science, Technology, and Society (1997) from the University of Calgary. He lives in Calgary, where he practices immigration law and teaches law at a local college. He would like to thank Professor Allan Ingelson at the University of Calgary Faculty of Law for assistance with his water resources paper. @ 2011, Kamaal R. Zaidi. 97