The Past, Present, and Future of Geothermal Circa 2009

Geothermal Energy / Economics

For historical purposes, in 2009, the U.S. Senate considered the climate bill that Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Cal) and John Kerry (D-Mass) released Wednesday, Sept. 28, public focus will soon shift to the contentious topic of climate change and energy reform. Emissions reduction legislation will mean more momentum for renewable energy sources, and one of the brightest spots in the world of renewables is geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is naturally generated in the earth's core (which is hotter than the surface of the sun) and presents itself as a clean, renewable and domestic source of energy, as it can never be shipped overseas. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, the first dry steam geothermal plant was built in Laderello, Italy in 1904. This plant has run flawlessly since that year and now provides power to about 1 million households. Geothermal is an easy pick for Congress, but there are many different factors involved in a successful plant.

Original working URL: https://www.energyandcapital.com/articles/geothermal-energy/72107