The project involves commercial generation of power through boiling water on naturally-occurring rocks buried three miles (five kilometers) underground. The project was put on hold after it caused tremors, including a 3.4 magnitude quake three years ago.
Basel’s environmental and economic department’s assessment indicated that the risk of earthquakes will be very high for future, if drilling continues up to 5,000 meters (16,400 feet) into the ground. The department showed that the project in Basel is impossible because it would trigger up to 30 earthquakes in the first phase of drilling alone. Tremors were not expected to occur before the start of the project.
Markus Haering, project designer and geologist, has been charged with property damage. Geopower Basel has paid around $9 million in compensation for cracked walls and similar damage on nearby houses and other buildings.
