Get steamed: Congress should fund geothermal research (Salt Lake Tribune OpEd)

[jpak]

http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_5257024

They don't require the damming of free-flowing rivers. They don't emit greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. They don't produce nuclear waste, create the potential for a disastrous accident or pose a terrorist threat.

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We're sitting on a gold mine, folks, a gold mine of hot water, steam, magma and super-heated bedrock. Some day, if we're willing to make the investment in research and development to allow it to be tapped in a profitable manner, geothermal energy could contribute mightily to our nation's energy supply.

And while the Bush administration acknowledged that fact by extending production tax credits for geothermal power plants through 2008, it is attempting to eliminate geothermal research funding for the second year in a row. The budget cut equates to $25 million, just a drop in the $2.9 trillion budget bucket for fiscal 2008. Last year, Congress had the sense to restore the funding, and we're hoping for a repeat performance.

The administration has its reasons, none of them valid. Craig Stevens, chief spokesman for the U.S. Department of Energy, says geothermal energy production is a "mature technology," and the power industry should be able to take it from here.

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Ummm...isn't nuclear power a "mature industry" as well???

[ixion]

1. the 'power' industry is corrupt

just like all the others. they'd rather charge high prices and use existing infrastructure than spend ONE DIME expanding to geothermal, although it would make sense to do so.