Why Geothermal?
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Geothermal energy's benefits
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Geothermal energy has significant potential to generate power and provide energy for direct use applications
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Why should electric utilities buy geothermal power?
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Why should state energy agencies support the development of geothermal resources?
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What are the primary environmental issues related to geothermal development?
1. Geothermal energy...
- Is reliable, continuous, and secure
- Is renewable and sustainable
- Safeguards clean air
- Uses little land
- Has predictable costs; no price shocks
- Boosts local economies
- Contributes to economic development
- Provides distributed power for remote off-grid sites
- Can assist in the disposal of city wastewater
- Can start small, grow in increments
- Conserves fossil fuels
- Offsets importing or transporting fuels
- Contributes to energy diversity
Source: Geothermal Education Office
2. Geothermal energy has significant potential to generate power and provide energy for direct use applications
Many of the 19 GeoPowering the West states have geothermal resources that can be used to generate power or provide energy for direct use applications (e.g., aquaculture, greenhouses, district and space heating, spas and resorts, and other agricultural and industrial uses).
Unless otherwise noted, the data below comes from the Assessment of geothermal resources of the United States, 1978 (Circular 790) and Assessment of low-temperature geothermal resources of the United States, 1982 (Circular 892), both published by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The USGS estimates are over 25 years old. They do not consider anticipated or additional hydrothermal resources that might be available though advanced technology or improved knowledge of geothermal systems. A new assessment of geothermal resources is sorely needed.
Geothermal potential for electricity generation and direct use |
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STATE |
ELECTRICITY |
DIRECT USE (MWt for 30 yr) |
| Alaska | 189 |
434 |
| Arizona | 23 |
1,636 |
| California | 12,206 |
1,957 |
| Colorado | 24 |
1,761 |
| Hawai'i | 251 |
24 |
| Idaho |
323-529 (Idaho Department of Water Resources) |
2,759 |
| Kansas | not specified |
1,684 |
| Montana | not specified |
8,755 |
| Nebraska | not specified |
1,550 |
| Nevada | 2,559 |
2,386 |
| New Mexico | 37-100 (Southwest Technology Development Institute, New Mexico State University) |
582 |
| North Dakota | not specified |
4,950 |
| Oklahoma | not specified |
2,100 |
| Oregon | 2,031 |
1,198 |
| South Dakota | not specified |
2,592 |
| Texas | not specified |
423 |
| Utah | 1,300 |
685 |
| Washington | 27 |
448 |
| Wyoming | not specified |
4,793 |