1. An Integrated Assessment Model for Public Policy Alternatives, Priorities, and Outcomes in Geothermal Environments.- Transferability of Research Results in Other KGRAs.- Assumptions.- An Orientation to Imperial County.- County Demographic and Employment Features.- The Research Model.- Functions of the Model.- Consolidation.- Systematization.- Identification.- Enhancement.- Mitigation.- Results.- Methodology.- Research Site Selection.- On-Site Research Data Collection.- Measurement of Key Factors.- Data Analytic Techniques.- Research Conclusions, Recommendations: Public Policy Alternatives, Priorities, and Outcomes.- Imperial County Research Prospective.- The Imperial County Plan.- Scope of Planning and of Energy Planning in Imperial County.- Acknowledgment and Comment.- 2. Geothermal Energy in Imperial County, California.- Geothermal Resources.- Definitions.- Underlying Geological Theory of Geothermal Energy.- Types of Geothermal Resources.- Geothermal Exploration and Drilling.- Geothermal Power Plants.- Use of Geothermal Resources.- Geothermal Resources in Imperial County.- Origin of the Geothermal Resource.- Estimation of Geothermal Temperature and Reservoir Capacity.- Geothermal Area Physical Properties.- Effects of Fluid Withdrawal and Reinjection.- Life Expectancy of the Geothermal Resource.- Conclusion.- Acknowledgment.- 3. Population—Economic Data Analyses Relative to Geothermal Fields, Imperial County, California.- Population Analysis of Imperial County.- Migration.- Energy Capacity and Consumption in Imperial County.- Population Composition and Change.- Population Economics.- Housing and Transportation.- Regional Socioeconomic Comparisons.- Migration and Income Characteristics.- Discriminant Analyses of Geothermal Areas.- Applications to Geothermal Energy Development.- Spanish-American Population of Imperial County.- Resident SAs.- Illegal Mexican Aliens.- The MA Population and Geothermal Energy Development.- Acknowledgment.- 4. Regional Employment Implications for Geothermal Energy Development in Imperial County, California.- Regional Regression Analysis for Employment.- Analysis Result.- Implications of Geothermal Development on Regional Employment.- Acknowledgment.- 5. Projected Population, Growth, and Displacement from Geothermal Development.- Farm Labor Force Reduction Based on Land Area Analysis.- Farm Labor Reduction.- Historical Migration and Age Structure.- Population Projections.- Series (I) and (II).- Series (III) and (IV).- Series (V) and (VI).- Results.- Conclusions.- Transferability of Methods and Results.- 6. Public Opinion about Geothermal Development.- Methodology.- Sample Design.- Questionnaire Design and Review.- Mail-Back Procedure.- Response Rates.- Cautions.- Public Opinion about Geothermal Development in Imperial County: 1976.- Understanding of Geothermal Development.- Background Characteristics.- Attitudes.- Adequacy of Information about Geothermal Development.- Background Characteristics.- Attitudes.- Conclusions.- Regulation of Geothermal Development.- Background Characteristics.- Attitudinal Statements.- Foreseeing Problems Arising Out of Geothermal Development.- Background Characteristics.- Attitudes.- Land Ownership and Opinion about Geothermal Development.- Land Ownership.- Landowner’s Opinion.- Rural Land Ownership.- Public Opinion in the Heber Area.- Conclusions and Recommendations.- Recommendations.- Transferability of Research.- Future Research.- Acknowledgment.- 7. Leadership, Community Decisions, and Geothermal Energy Development: Imperial County, California.- The Power Structure in Imperial County.- Methodology.- Influential People and the Power Structure in Imperial Valley.- Summary.- Leadership Opinion and Reaction to Geothermal Development.- A Comparison of Leadership Opinion and Public Opinion of Geothermal Resource Development.- The Efffect of Geothermal Resource Development on the Power Structure in Imperial County.- Conclusions.- Acknowledgment.- 8. Geothermal Development. Update.- Beginnings of Geothermal Impact on County Population and Leadership.- Electrical Use Developments.- East Mesa.- Heat Exchangers.- Pumps.- Cooling System.- Heber.- Brawley.- Salton Sea.- Direct Use Developments.- City of El Centro Community Center.- Holly Sugar.- Valley Nitrogen.- Regulatory Permitting Process in the County.- Limiting Factors on Geothermal Development.- Transmission Lines.- Financing.- Political Factors.- Direct Use Transmission Pipes.- Cooling Water Availability.- Brine Waste Disposal.- Conclusions.- 9. Research Conclusions and Policy Recommendations about Geothermal Development.- Major Research Conclusions.- Environmental Impact.- Population and Economics.- Policy Recommendations of the Population Analysis.- Public Opinion.- Research Conclusions on Public Opinion.- Policy Recommendations from the Public Opinion Survey.- Recommendations.- Assumptions.- Environmental.- Socioeconomic.- Implications of Research Oriented Planning to Imperial County and Other Counties.- Acknowledgment.- Appendix: Public Opinion Questionnaire.- References.- Author Index.