EARTH DAY 2010: GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE GUIDE

What is Geothermal Energy?

Geothermal energy is heat emanating from the Earth’s interior. This heat energy can be harnessed to generate electrical power, heat and cool buildings, and other energy purposes without emitting the greenhouse gases that pollute our planet. 

How is Geothermal Energy Environmentally Friendly?

Geothermal energy is a clean, renewable resource that provides energy in the U.S. and around the world. Heat flows constantly from the Earth’s interior and is expected to continue to radiate for billions of years to come, ensuring an inexhaustible supply of energy.  Plus, geothermal power plants involve no combustion, unlike fossil fuels plants, so they emit essentially zero greenhouse gases.

How is Geothermal Power used in the United States?

Electricity is produced using geothermal heat in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming.  Geothermal power provides baseload electricity, which makes it one of the few renewable power sources that can substitute for coal in our utility system.  Today, geothermal power replaces the need for coal-fired electricity that would otherwise add 22 million tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere every year.  This offsets the total per capita emissions of one million Americans.

Recommended Basic FREE Information:

Geothermal Basics: http://www.geo-energy.org/Basics.aspx

A quick guide to many of the most common questions about geothermal energy.  This can also be downloaded as a PDF document at: http://www.geo-energy.org/reports/Geo101_Final_Feb_15.pdf.

Geothermal Energy and the Environment: http://www.geo-energy.org/geo_basics_environment.aspx

Basic environmental information about geothermal energy.  For more detailed information, you can download A Guide to Geothermal Energy and the Environment.  First written for Earth Day 2005, this report covers a wide range of issues related to geothermal energy and the environment from land use to air emissions.  This report can also be downloaded as a PDF document at: http://www.geo-energy.org/reports/Environmental%20Guide.pdf.

Additional GEA reports are available at: http://geo-energy.org/reports.aspx

Geothermal Fact Sheets: http://geo-energy.org/factSheets.aspx

Fact sheets on a variety of topics concerning geothermal energy, from jobs, to heat pumps, to induced seismicity.

GEA’s Geothermal Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/geo-energy/

Photos of geothermal sites/projects and from GEA events featuring key players in the industry.

Geothermal Energy Facts from the Geothermal Education Office: http://geothermal.marin.org/pwrheat.html  

Introductory level facts about geothermal energy.  The GEO web site also has an Advanced Level list, and a useful glossary.

A Geothermal Slideshow Presentation:

Introduction to Geothermal Energy Slide Show from the Geothermal Education Office: http://geothermal.marin.org/GEOpresentation/

A series of 122 slides walks the viewer through geothermal energy from exploration to power plants and geothermal spas! 

Geothermal Videos:

Geothermal Energy: A Renewable Option, from the Geothermal Education Office: http://geothermal.marin.org/video/vid_page.html

A 21 minute video about geothermal energy.  It can be viewed in its entirety or in one of five sections.

GEA's YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/geoenergyishot

A series of short videos about geothermal energy projects and potential.

The Geothermal Energy Association is a trade association composed of U.S. companies who support the expanded use of geothermal energy and are developing geothermal resources worldwide for electrical power generation and direct-heat uses. Our members have offices or operations in many states and in numerous countries throughout the world. To accomplish this, the GEA advocates for public policies that will promote the development and utilization of geothermal Resources, provides a forum for the industry to discuss issues and problems, encourages research and development to improve geothermal technologies, presents industry views to governmental organizations, provides assistance for the export of geothermal goods and services, compiles statistical data about the geothermal industry, and conducts education and outreach projects.