Geothermal energy is gaining popularity in the Western United States as a means of achieving renewable energy goals. Instead of drilling for oil, states like Colorado are drilling for underground heat to power geothermal electricity plants. Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who chairs the Western Governors’ Association, is leading an initiative to increase the use of geothermal energy in the region. A recent workshop brought together state and federal officials, industry leaders, and utility representatives to discuss the future of geothermal energy.
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(image source: unsplash.com,Sam Bark)
Backers of geothermal energy believe it can play a vital role in the clean energy transition, but only with government investments, utility regulations, and other policies that encourage development and help the industry become more cost-competitive over time. The majority of the industry’s potential for power generation is in Western states, where underground permeable rock with fractures contains hot fluid necessary for generating electricity.
Geothermal energy has drawn significant interest from oil and gas companies, who see the potential to convert existing fossil fuel wells into geothermal sites and transition their drilling expertise, equipment, and workforce to clean energy projects. However, the development of geothermal projects is currently more expensive than other renewables like wind and solar, which only became commercially competitive after decades of government support.
Geothermal plants provide steady, on-demand electricity and complement wind and solar farms, which can vary in production based on weather conditions or the time of day. Geothermal also has a smaller environmental footprint, mostly being underground, compared to the expansion of wind and solar projects that can create land-use conflicts. However, geothermal drilling can cause environmental concerns, such as the depletion of underground reservoirs and an increased risk of earthquakes.
Currently, geothermal plants generate less than half a percent of the nation’s power, mostly concentrated in California and Nevada. But some state and industry leaders believe that geothermal energy will have to grow significantly to meet the need for steady, dispatchable power currently provided by natural gas and coal plants. They point out that geothermal has not enjoyed the same level of government subsidies and investments that helped wind and solar get off the ground, and policymakers need to consider the specific needs of geothermal when looking at energy policy.
source:(Axious Generate)
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