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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)
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3 Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
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Mar. 31, 2013
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| Accounting Method [Policy Text Block] | Accounting Method The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared using the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and have been consistently applied in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements. |
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| Use of Estimates [Policy Text Block] | Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities known to exist as of the date the consolidated financial statements are published, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Uncertainties with respect to such estimates and assumptions are inherent in the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements; accordingly, it is possible that the actual results could differ from these estimates and assumptions and could have a material effect on the reported amounts of the Company’s consolidated financial position and consolidated results of operations. |
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| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Policy Text Block] | Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company considers all unrestricted cash, short-term deposits, and other investments with original maturities of no more than ninety days when acquired to be cash and cash equivalents for the purposes of the statement of cash flows. Under the Loan Guarantee Agreement at Neal Hot Springs with the Department of Energy, all funds for USG Oregon LLC are deposited into PNC Bank subject to certain procedural restrictions on use of the funds. At March 31, 2013, $9.0 million in funds were deposited at PNC Bank and unavailable for immediate corporate needs. Discussion regarding restricted cash is included in Note 3. |
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| Accounts Receivable Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Policy Text Block] | Accounts Receivable Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Trade Accounts Receivable Management estimates the amount of trade accounts receivable that may not be collectible and records an allowance for doubtful accounts, accordingly. The allowance is an estimate based upon aging of receivable balances, historical collection experience, and the periodic credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition. Receivable balances are written off when we determine that the balance is uncollectible. As of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, there were no balances that were over 90 days past due and no balance in allowance for doubtful accounts was recognized. Grant Accounts Receivable For receivables expected to be received from grants from Federal or State agencies, the Company records the receivable amounts net of the funds expected to be received which may be less than the total amounts requested on the actual grant applications. Therefore, no allowance accounts are considered to be necessary for receivables from grants at March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012. |
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| Concentration of Credit Risk [Policy Text Block] | Concentration of Credit Risk The Company’s cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash, consisted of commercial bank deposits, money market accounts, and petty cash. Cash deposits are held in commercial banks in Boise, Idaho and Portland, Oregon. Deposits are guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to $250,000 per legal entity through December 31, 2013. At March 31, 2013, the Company’s total cash balance, excluding money market funds, was $18,460,774, and bank deposits amounted to $18,478,730. The difference was due to outstanding checks and deposits. Of the bank deposits, $17,383,414 was not covered by or was in excess of FDIC insurance guaranteed limits. At fiscal year end, the Company’s money market funds invested in government backed securities totaled $997,980 and were not subject to deposit insurance. |
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| Equity Securities [Policy Text Block] | Equity Securities The Company determines the appropriate classification of marketable securities at the time of purchase and reevaluates this designation as of each balance sheet date. The Company classifies these securities as either held-to-maturity, trading, or available-for-sale. All marketable securities and restricted investments were classified as available-for-sale securities. The Company classifies its investments as “available for sale” because it does not intend to actively buy and sell for short-term profits. The Company's investments are subject to market risk, primarily interest rate and credit risk. The fair value of investments is determined using observable or quoted market prices for those securities. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Realized gains and losses, declines in value judged to be other than temporary and interest on available-for-sale securities are included in net income. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. |
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| Property, Plant and Equipment [Policy Text Block] | Property, Plant and Equipment Property, plant and equipment, including assets under capital lease, are recorded at historical cost. Costs of acquisition of geothermal properties are capitalized in the period of acquisition. Major improvements that significantly increase the useful lives and/or capabilities of the assets are capitalized. A primary factor in determining whether to capitalize construction type costs is the stage of the potential project’s development. Once a project is determined to be commercially viable, all costs directly associated with the development and construction of the project are capitalized. Until that time, all development costs are expensed. A commercially viable project will have, among other factors, a reservoir discovery well or other significant geothermal surface anomaly, a power transmission path that is identified and available, and an electricity off-taker identified. A valid reservoir discovery is generally defined when a test well has been substantially completed that indicates the presence of a geothermal reservoir that has a high probability of possessing the necessary temperatures, permeability, and flow rates. After a valid discovery has been made, the project enters the development stage. Generally, all costs incurred during the development stage are capitalized and tracked on an individual project basis. If a geothermal project is abandoned, the associated costs that have been capitalized are charged to expense in the year of abandonment. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. Interest costs incurred during the construction period of defined major projects from debt that is specifically incurred for those projects are capitalized. Funds received from grants associated with capital projects reduce the cost of the asset directly associated with the individual grants. The offset of the cost of the asset associated with grant proceeds is recorded in the period when the requirements of the grant are substantially complete and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Direct labor costs, incurred for specific major projects expected to have long-term benefits will be capitalized. Direct labor costs subject to capitalization include employee salaries, as well as, related payroll taxes and benefits. With respect to the allocation of salaries to projects, salaries are allocated based on the percentage of hours that our key managers, engineers and scientists work on each project and are invoiced to the project each month. These individuals track their time worked at each project. Major projects are, generally, defined as projects expected to exceed $100,000. Direct labor includes all of the time incurred by employees directly involved with construction and development activities. General and/or indirect management time and time spent evaluating the feasibility of potential projects are expensed when incurred. Employee training time is expensed when incurred. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset. Where appropriate, terms of property rights and revenue contracts can influence the determination of estimated useful lives. Estimated useful lives by major asset categories are summarized as follows:
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| Intangible Assets [Policy Text Block] | Intangible Assets All costs directly associated with the acquisition of geothermal and surface water rights are capitalized as intangible assets. These costs are amortized over their estimated utilization period. There are several factors that influence the estimated utilization periods as well as underlying fair value that include, but are not limited to, the following:
Currently, amortization expense is being calculated on a straight-line basis over an estimated utilization period of 30 years for assets placed in service. If an intangible water or geothermal right is forfeited or otherwise lost, the remaining unamortized costs are expensed in the period of forfeiture. An impaired right is reduced to its estimated fair market value in the year the impairment is realized. Costs incurred that extend the term of an intangible right are capitalized and amortized over the new estimated period of utilization. |
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| Impairment of Long-Lived Assets [Policy Text Block] | Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The Company evaluates its long-term assets annually for impairment and when circumstances/events occur that may impact the fair value of the assets. An impairment loss would be recognized if the carrying amount of a capitalized asset is not recoverable and exceeds its fair value. The most recent assessment was performed based upon financial conditions and assumptions as of December 31, 2012, and there have not been any significant changes in financial conditions and assumptions subsequent to that assessment date. Management believes that there have not been any circumstances that have warranted the recognition of losses due to the impairment of long-lived assets. |
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| Stock Options Granted to Employees and Non-employees [Policy Text Block] | Stock Options Granted to Employees and Non-employees The Company follows financial accounting standards that require the measurement of the value of employee services received in exchange for an award of an equity instrument based on the grant-date fair value of the award. For employees, directors and officers, the fair value of the awards are expensed over the vesting period. The current vesting period for all options is eighteen months. Non-employee stock-based compensation is granted at the Board of Director’s discretion to reward select consultants for exceptional performance. Prior to issuance of the awards, the Company was not under any obligation to issue the stock options. Subsequent to the award, the recipient was not obligated to perform any services. Therefore, the fair value of these options was expensed on the grant date, which was also the measurement date. Under the fair value recognition provisions, share-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized as expense over the vesting period. Determining the fair value of share-based awards at the grant date requires judgment. In addition, judgment is also required in estimating the amount of share-based awards that are expected to be forfeited. If actual results differ significantly from these estimates, stock-based compensation expense and our results of operations could be materially impacted. |
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| Stock Based Compensation Granted to Employees [Policy Text Block] | Stock Based Compensation Granted to Employees The Company recognizes the value of common stock granted to employees and directors over the periods in which the services are received. The value of those services is based upon the estimated fair value of the common stock to be awarded. Estimated fair value is adjusted each reporting period. At the end of each vesting period, estimated fair value is adjusted to fair market value. The adjustment is reflected in the reporting period in which the vesting occurs. |
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| Earnings (Losses) Per Share [Policy Text Block] | Earnings (Losses) Per Share The Company follows financial accounting standards, which provides for calculation of "basic" and "diluted" earnings (losses) per share. Basic earnings per share includes no dilution and is computed by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings of an entity similar to fully diluted earnings per share. Although there were common stock equivalents outstanding at March 31, 2012, they were not included in the calculation of the loss per share because their inclusion would have been considered anti-dilutive. Both basic and diluted were presented for the calculation of the income per share for the three months ended March 31, 2013. Total common stock equivalents on a fully diluted basis at March 31, 2013 and 2012 were 122,768,560 and 97,906,612 ; respectively. |
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| Financial Instruments [Policy Text Block] | Financial Instruments The Company’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, trade account and other receivables, refundable tax credits, and accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Unless otherwise noted, it is management’s opinion that the Company is not exposed to significant interest, currency or credit risks arising from these financial instruments. The fair values of these financial instruments approximate their carrying values, unless otherwise noted. The Company’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar. Monetary items are converted into U.S. dollars at the rate prevailing at the balance sheet date. Resulting gains and losses are generally included in determining net income for the period in which exchange rates change. |
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| Revenue [Policy Text Block] | Revenue Revenue Recognition
Energy Sales
Renewable Energy Credits (“RECs”)
Revenue Source
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| Reclassification [Policy Text Block] |
Reclassification
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| Recent Accounting Pronouncements [Policy Text Block] | Recent Accounting Pronouncements Management has considered all recent accounting pronouncements, and no pronouncements were determined to have a significant impact on the financial statements that have not been disclosed in prior reporting periods. |