North of the Hot Zone

The Department of Energy has been working on this issue.  It has proposed a series of national geothermal goals.  Some of the goals are:

1. characterize the entire hydrothermal resource base by 2010;
2. sustain double digit annual growth in geothermal power; direct use and heat pump applications;
3. demonstrate state-of-the-art energy production from the full range of geothermal resources;
4. achieve new power or commercial heat production in at least 25 states; and,
5. develop the tools and techniques to build an engineered geothermal system (EGS) power plant by 2015.

Funding Priorities

1. discovery and definition of geothermal resources;
2. expand the GRED program funding;
3. develop new exploration technologies;
4. support state-based programs to expand knowledge of the resource base and its potential applications;
5. improve drilling technology;
6. demonstrate geothermal applications in presently non-commercial settings;
7. develop and demonstrate Enhanced Geothermal Systems techniques.

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