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U.S. GEA reflects on geothermal development in the U.S. in recent REW article

Alexander Richter 18 Dec 2009

Karl Gawell, the Executive Director of the U.S. Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) is reflecting on the year of 2009, what it meant to the geothermal energy industry and its development and how the organization sees the outlook for 2010 and beyond.

In an article published yesterday, Karl Gawell, the Executive Director of the U.S. Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) is reflecting on the year of 2009, what it meant to the geothermal energy industry and its development and how the organization sees the outlook for 2010 and beyond.

In the article, he and Leslie Blodget of the GEA are talking about the impact of the U.S. stimulus legislation, geothermal development in the U.S. and the ramped up efforts by the DOE with regards to policy development and research.

In its outlook for 2010 and beyond GEA’s staff consulted its crystal ball and predict that in 2010:

  • The number of states with geothermal power will reach double digits, with new power projects coming online in four to eight states.
  • Climate change will increase the pressure for policy support by federal and state governments; geothermal power will become more widely viewed as one of the key energy sources to provide baseload power, now largely supplied by coal.
  • New technology advances will continue to expand the recognized power potential of geothermal resources; DOE will officially recognize a near-term potential of at least 20 GW, or 5% of U.S. power needs, with longer-term possibilities well over 100 GW.
  • The GEA Expo in 2010 will set new attendance records and attract exhibitors and visitors from around the world.

For the full article use link below.

Source: Gawell, Karl and Blodgett, Leslie, “This Year in Geothermal Energy” in Renewable Energy World