Geologist stands trial for triggering earthquakes in Switzerland

[bijou]

A geologist has gone on trial in Switzerland for allegedly causing earthquakes while drilling for hot rocks to produce clean energy.
 
Published: 6:00AM GMT 16 Dec 2009
Markus Haering, who designed the geothermal project, rejected allegations that he deliberately damaged properties and said local people knew the risks.
The deep drilling underground caused a series of earthquakes in 2006, including one of 3.4 magnitude, rattling residents of the north-western city of Basel. Geopower Basel, the project leader, has already paid around 9 million Swiss francs (£5.3 million) in compensation for cracked walls and other damage on properties near the experiment.
 
The project was suspended at the time and shut down last week after a risk analysis concluded that more quakes could follow if the drilling continued.
The experiment aimed to be the world's first to generate power commercially by boiling water on naturally occurring rocks 3 miles underground.
The Swiss efforts are being closely watched in the United States, where the energy department is sponsoring more than 120 geothermal energy projects in several states. A leading US company, AltaRock Energy, in September stopped drilling at one key development site north of San Francisco, citing drilling difficulties, but said quake fears were not a factor. ...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/switzerland/6820811/Geologist-stands-trial-for-triggering-earthquakes-in-Switzerland.html

[Thor]

No, Switzerland isn't between any mountains that were initially created by fault lines.........  f'n idiots.......