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Abstract
(Marketwire - May 26, 2009) - U.S. Geothermal Inc. (TSX:GTH)(NYSE Amex:HTM) ("U.S. Geothermal"), a renewable energy company focused on the production and sale of electricity from geothermal energy, announced today that it has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") to enter into due diligence review on an $85 million project loan for its Neal Hot Springs project in eastern Oregon. The DOE loan is expected to provide 80% of the $106 million estimated total capital cost. Construction of a binary cycle power plant utilizing significantly improved technology is expected to begin in mid 2010. The new plant, designed to deliver 22 megawatts ("MW") of power net to the grid, is scheduled to begin commercial operations in late 2011. The DOE loan is anticipated to be a combined construction and long term loan and provide the project with a low cost annual interest rate.