Geothermal Energy Development in the U.S.
New Initiative Opens More Federal Land to Exploration
Nov 21, 2008
The expectation that geothermal energy will play a key role in powering America in the future has been enhanced with the announcement by the U.S. Department of the Interior.In the future, 190 million acres of Federal land will be made available for its development.
The United States World Leader in Geothermal Energy
The United States is a world leader in the production of geothermal energy. According to Renewable Energy World (REV.com), "The State of U.S. Geothermal Production and Development" by Leslie Blodgett, (9/25/08), at the present time, it is already producing over 16,000 gigawatt-hours, almost half of this on Federal lands. One gigawatt, which is 1000 megawatts, can power 1000 homes.
In making the announcement, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, (10/22/08), emphasized that "Geothermal energy will play a key role in... America's energy future and 90% percent of our nation's geothermal resources are found on Federal lands. Facilitating their leasing and development under environmentally sound regulations is crucial to supply the secure, clean energy American homes and businesses need."
The Geothermal Initiative
The geothermal initiative issued by the Department of the Interior, titled the Final Geothermal Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, could produce 5,540 megawatts of new electric generation capacity resources by 2015. That would meet the needs of 5.5 million homes. It is estimated that by 2025, with a total of 12,100 megawatts, it could power more than 12 million homes.
The Geothermal Initiative Plan Defined
The geothermal initiative plan would identify about 118 million acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands and 79 million acres of National Forest System lands for future leasing. The development of the plan includes feedback from states, local communities, industry and environmental groups.
Geothermal leasing revenues and royalties will be shared with the states and counties where the leases are located, with 50 percent going to the State, 25 percent to the county and the remaining 25 percent to the Geothermal Royalty Fund of the BLM which will use it for further planning and development.
States Participation
The governors of the 12 states in the plan, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, will each have the opportunity to review the final document to ensure consistency with state plans, programs and policies. The BLM Management has agreed to wait until the end of the Governor's consistency review period before signing and issuing the Record of Decision approving land use plan amendments.
Geothermal energy is a renewable source that generates electricity with minimal carbon emissions. It is replenished by heat sources deep in the earth and can supply energy for buildings, greenhouses, aquaculture as well as other industries. Most important, it offers the possibility of reducing the need for conventional energy sources.
Sources: U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, Announcement October 22, 2008
