Pros & Cons of Geothermal Power

Geothermal energy emits little carbon, but some plants have waste issues.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) advocates expanding geothermal power production to contribute to America's energy needs. Geothermal power offers the promise of clean and renewable energy but has its own costs and environmental impacts.

Abundant Domestic Availability

America has abundant sources of geothermal resources in the contiguous western states, Alaska and Hawaii. America could reduce its dependency on foreign oil by developing these geothermal resources.

Clean and Renewable

The DOE reports that geothermal energy fields produce one-sixth of a natural gas power plant's carbon emissions. Geothermal energy also is completely renewable, generated by the heat emanating from Earth's core.

Expense

Even in locations where geothermal energy is abundant, extraction isn't always economically viable. A DOE study estimated that establishing a national geothermal energy transmission grid would cost $1,000,000 per mile of conduit.

Waste

Direct-use geothermal plants extract heat from hot water pumped to the Earth's surface, which leaves behind salts and mineral by-products. These plants also produce waste water with a high boron content.

References

• U.S. Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy: Geothermal Technologies Program
• National Atlas: Renewable Energy Sources in the United States
• National Biological Information Infrastructure: Renewable Energy: Geothermal Energy
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: Boron: Potential for Human Exposure
• U.S. Department of Energy: Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Geothermal Program: Geothermal Risk Mitigation Strategies Report

Resources

• NREL: Learning About Renewable Energy: Geothermal Energy Basics