MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Lake County Historical Society is having its General membership meeting this Saturday, April 30, at the Calpine Geothermal Visitor Center in Middletown.

The speaker, Ted Wilmsen, will be speaking on “The History of the Geysers.”

Wilmsen is one of the foremost experts when it comes to the development history of The Geysers.

In 1972 Wilmsen left Union Oil, moved to Santa Rosa and began his career at The Geysers Geothermal Project.

He started out with Magma Power Co. and continued with the Geysers project as it went through five different ownership changes over the next 27 years.

During that period he was involved in all phases of the geothermal steam development process at The Geysers.

In 1999, he retired following Calpine Corp.’s ownership consolidation whereby Calpine owned about 90 percent of all the geothermal assets at The Geysers.

He has been on the Geysers Geothermal Association Board since its inception and served as treasurer and president.

The presentation will begin at 2 p.m.

The Calpine Geothermal Visitor Center is located at 15500 Central Park Road, less than a mile south of Middletown, right off Highway 29.

Refreshments will be served and admission is free.

For more information, contact Historical Society President Phil Smoley at 707-264-4905.