The Geothermal Resources Council

With the experience and dedication of its diverse, international membership and a 40-year plus track record, the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) has built a solid reputation as the world’s premier geothermal association. The GRC serves as a focal point for continuing professional development for its members through its outreach, information transfer and education services.

GRC Library

The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is a professional educational association for the international geothermal community. Our database contains over 35,000 records on all aspects of geothermal energy, including exploration, reservoir engineering, power plant design and operation, direct use, geothermal heat pumps, regulatory issues, energy policy, energy markets, news briefs, and more. We provide article-level citations to: all GRC Transactions (1977 to present), all GRC Special Reports, numerous feature articles and news briefs from theGRC Bulletin (1973 to present), corporate and academic technical reports, journals, and books. 

GRC Goals

The GRC is a tax-exempt, non-profit, educational association 501(c)(3). Formed in 1970, the GRC was incorporated in the state of Washington in 1972, and in California in 1981. With members in 40 plus countries, the GRC actively seeks to expand its role as a primary professional educational association for the international geothermal community. The goals of the GRC are to:

• Encourage worldwide development of geothermal resources through the collection and timely distribution of data and technological information.
• Promote research, exploration and development of geothermal energy in ways compatible with the environment.
• Serve as a public forum for the world geothermal community, providing transfer of objective and unbiased information on the nature of geothermal resources and techniques of geothermal development.
• Cooperate with national and international academic institutions, industry and government agencies to encourage economically and environmentally sound development and utilization of geothermal resources.

GRC Membership

GRC membership is open to any person, organization, agency or company. Membership advantages include access to GRC functions, specifically its Annual Meeting and educational programs; a subscription to the GRC Bulletin; listing in the GRC Membership Roster and Registry of Geothermal Services & Equipment; companion membership in the International Geothermal Association; and the opportunity to stand for election to the GRC Board of Directors. Membership opportunities include:

Individual: Regular, Student and Benefactor. Students with an interest in geothermal resources and development are encouraged to join the GRC.
Corporate: Company/Institutional, Supporting, Sustaining and Patron. GRC Corporate Members include major developers of geothermal energy in the United States and around the world.
Retired: Over 65 years of age and retired. Retired GRC Members include many geothermal industry pioneers.

Governance and Funding

• Photos of GRC Board of Directors

The GRC is governed by a 20-member Board of Directors, elected by the general membership to 2-year terms. To provide continuity, half of the Board is elected every year. All GRC members are eligible for election to the Board of Directors.

GRC operating funds are derived from its Annual Meeting; corporate contributions; government grants and contracts; workshops; membership dues and contributions; and publication sales and advertising.

GRC Foundation

The GRC Board of Directors created the Geothermal Resources Council Foundation in 1986. Contributions to the Foundation help ensure future geothermal development through GRC education and information transfer efforts. The Foundation consists of three specific funds augmented by tax-deductible contributions and interest on principal:

Education Fund: Provides scholarships, speaker travel expenses and miscellaneous costs associated with educational activities.
Pioneer Fund: Provides financing (if needed) for GRC operations and capital expenses.
Publication Fund: Provides loans for production costs of selected GRC publications.

Education Program

The GRC develops educational functions on a variety of topics that are critical to geothermal development. The GRC convenes special meetings, workshops, and conferences on a broad range of topics pertaining to geothermal exploration, development and utilization. Topics include (but are not limited to) business management, direct (low-temperature) uses, drilling, economics, environmental aspects, financing, geochemistry, geology, geophysics, heat pumps, operations and maintenance, power plants, reservoir engineering, and taxation. In addition, the GRC periodically schedules a basic, introductory course about geothermal resources and development. On a contract basis, the GRC can provide comprehensive professional meeting services to fulfill industry and agency needs.

Annual Meetings

GRC Annual Meetings are the most important yearly event in the geothermal world, providing an international forum where members, participants and guests learn about the latest advances in geothermal technologies through technical and poster sessions. The companion (U.S.) Geothermal Energy Association Trade Show offers the opportunity to learn about the latest in geothermal equipment and services while forming important business contacts. A number of optional events during GRC Annual Meetings, including field trips and workshops, provide meaningful and enjoyable social interaction that promote friendships and collaboration within the international geothermal community. A convenient searchable CD Transactions offers most technical papers presented at GRC Annual Meetings, which are convened on a rotating basis at spacious facilities in Reno, Nevada, and in San Diego, California—with alternate cities chosen by the Board of Directors to enhance domestic and international relations.

Publications

The GRC publishes a periodical Bulletin (6 issues per year), which features articles on technical topics and geothermal development issues, as well as commentaries and news briefs. The Bulletin is provided to GRC members and is available to non-members by subscription. In addition, the GRC publishes an annual Membership Roster and Registry of Geothermal Services & Equipment, a unique publication that provides business, consulting and research contacts throughout the international geothermal community.

The GRC encourages its members and the geothermal industry to advertise in the Bulletin and the Membership Roster and Registry of Geothermal Services & Equipment. Advertisements in both publications reach not only our members, but representatives of the worldwide geothermal industry, government agencies and research institutions.

With financial assistance from private and/or government institutions, the GRC has published a number of Special Reports about various aspects of geothermal resources and development. As noted above, the GRC Transactions contain most technical papers presented at GRC Annual Meetings.