It has been more than 40 years since the geothermal energy of northern California's geysers was first tapped and converted to electricity to help meet the state's power needs. Although the 21 geothermal plants now operating in the state have become synonymous with renewable energy, nothing is forever; their electrical output has been on the decline since the mid-1980s. In a classic case of outside-the-box thinking, Calpine helped the City of Santa Rosa solve its wastewater disposal problem while increasing the steam field's generating capacity.