Geothermal Energy Hopes Are Booming

Subterranean rocks could supply 10% of power by 2050

By Ambreen Ali, Newser User

Posted Dec 31, 2008 9:15 PM CST

(Newser) – Hot rocks beneath the Earth's surface hold much promise for the nation's energy needs, but it's going to take big money to make the science work, the Christian Science Monitor reports. With $1 billion investment over the next 15 years, experts say geothermal power could provide 10% of the nation's energy—cleanly—by 2050. Google is on board for $10 million, with the company calling the technology the "killer app of the energy world."

The hefty price tag has kept the emissions-free resource growing slowly. But once tapped, a geothermal source can last centuries. The US leads the world in geothermal production, and California already uses it for 5% of its electricity capacity. In fact, only the Western US has the natural prerequisite conditions—subterranean water and fractured hot rock formations. But new technology can fracture rocks and inject needed water to make the rest of America as resourceful.

The fifth of Raser's geothermal power generation units is installed at the Thermo, Utah site with completed power generation units shown in the background. (Photo: Business Wire)

Water pipes run to and from heat exchangers and generators at Raser Technologies' Thermo geothermal plant in Utah. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

Workers install a straining pipe into a geothermal water well in Utah. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

Cooling towers rise above the barren desert at a geothermal plant in Utah. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

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Google Electricity Use: Enough for 200K Homes

Company consumed 2.3B kilowatt hours in 2010

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Google's Juicy Addiction: Cheap Electric

Not-so-green tech giants show insatiable appetite for power

Geothermal Hope: Pump Water Into Volcano, Turn It Into Power

$43M project planned in central Oregon

Jobs: I'll Spend Every Cent Apple Has to Kill Google

Called Android 'stolen product'

Google Electricity Use: Enough for 200K Homes

Company consumed 2.3B kilowatt hours in 2010

20 Most Toxic States

Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida at the top

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