Geothermal projects receive financial boost
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Energy announced that it plans to make $84 million available for geothermal energy projects over the next few years.
Some $35 million of that will fund 20-30 research proposals focused on the development of advanced geothermal technology, while the remaining $49 million will be used to bankroll 5-10 domestic projects demonstrating enhanced geothermal systems that generate at least 5 megawatts of electricity per year.
Geothermal energy comes from natural heat sources deep beneath the Earth’s surface, and can be used to produce electricity — or heat buildings directly — with little if any greenhouse gas emissions. Often overshadowed by solar and wind energy, geothermal is coming on strong in the U.S. and abroad as a practical and readily available alternative renewable source of energy.
The U.S. is currently the world leader in terms of geothermal energy production, with some 29 geothermal power plants operating on federal lands from coast to coast generating 1,250 megawatts — or enough to power 1.2 million homes on an ongoing basis — cumulatively.
“President Obama has laid out an ambitious agenda to put millions of people to work by investing in clean energy technology like geothermal energy,” Energy Secretary Steven Chu told reporters. “The administration is committed to funding important research like this to transform the way we use and produce energy and reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil,” he added.
Related News

Europe's Renewables Are Crowding Out Gas as Coal Phase-Out Slows
LONDON - The European Union’s renewable energy sources are helping reduce its dependence on natural gas that’s still costing the region dearly.
Renewables growth has helped reduce the EU’s dependence on gas, which has soared in price since the middle of last year as the region grapples with a supply crisis that’s dealt blows to industries as well as ordinary consumers’ pockets. More than half of new renewable generation since 2019 has replaced gas power, according to a study by London-based climate think tank Ember, with the rest replacing mainly nuclear and coal sources.
“These are moments and paradigm shifts when governments…