RESTRICTED CASH
6 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
RESTRICTED CASH [Text Block]

NOTE 3 – RESTRICTED CASH

The Company maintains cash balances that are restricted under Letter of Credit covenants for State and Federal well bonding requirements. These bonds renew on an annual basis. Restricted cash balances and explanations of the nature of the restrictions are summarized as follows:

    September 30,     March 31,  
Agency   2012     2012  
             
Idaho Department of Water Resources, Geothermal Well Bond $   260,000   $   260,000  
Bureau of Land Management, Geothermal Lease Bond – Gerlach Geothermal   10,000     10,000  
State of Nevada Division of Minerals, Statewide Drilling Bond   50,000     50,000  
Bureau of Land Management, Geothermal Lease Bonds   150,000     150,000  
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, Mineral Land and Reclamation Program   400,000     325,000  
U.S. Department of Energy – Construction Loan Bond   2,125,000     2,125,000  
             
  $   2,995,000   $   2,920,000  

The well bonding requirements ensure that the Company has sufficient financial resources to construct, operate and maintain geothermal wells while safeguarding subsurface, surface and atmospheric resources from unreasonable degradation, and to protect ground water aquifers and surface water sources from contamination. Other future costs of environmental remediation cannot be reasonably estimated and have not been recorded. The construction bond is required by the Loan Guarantee Agreement with the Department of Energy at Neal Hot Springs and will convert to a plant reserve fund upon completion of the plant facility.