Renewable Revolution

Mount Spurr, Alska

Experts believe that if fully exploited across the United States, geothermal resources could supply about a quarter of the entire US populations’ power needs. “High prices and climate change are definitely creating a renaissance in geothermal interest, particularly on a state and local level” – says Karl Gawell, executive director of the Geothermal Energy Association, adding that the projects currently underway are merely the “tip of the iceberg.” “If we really want to go all out for it, we could easily achieve a substantial amount; 20, 25 per cent of US energy needs within a few decades. We’re limited more by public policy than the resource – the resource is enormous.”