Survey Finds Geothermal Power Expanding in U.S. [View All]

[jpak]

http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=46548

When almost 60 new geothermal energy projects now under development in the U.S. are complete, up to 2,250 megawatts (MW) of electric power capacity will come online, generating approximately 18 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually.

This would almost double installed U.S. geothermal power capacity to more than 5,000 MW, according to a survey by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA).

These additions produce electric power roughly equivalent to all U.S. wind facilities operating in 2005. "This represents the U.S. geothermal industry's most dramatic wave of expansion since the 1980s," noted Karl Gawell, GEA's executive director.

The new GEA survey identifies power projects under development in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Utah and classifies their stage of development. Since the last survey in March 2006, Alaska has been added to the list of states producing geothermal power and a dozen new U.S. geothermal projects have been initiated.

<more>