Geothermal energy is a relatively untapped resource that could be a significant source of clean power for the United States in the future. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, heat from the Earth’s interior could fuel more than 10 percent of the nation’s current electrical generating capacity. The United States is already the world leader in geothermal energy production, accounting for 28 percent of the global installed geothermal capacity. States including California, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah have the greatest amount of current geothermal development, but deployment of this virtually carbon free renewable energy has significant potential in the rest of this country, particularly as new technologies are developed.

As geothermal energy production grows and new technologies develop, understanding the unique relationships between geothermal energy, water and land resources will be fundamental to effective policy making.

In this briefing, speakers will highlight recent successes in geothermal research and address questions, including:

• What are geothermal systems and where are they located?
• What water and land resources are necessary for geothermal energy production?
• How have existing geothermal operations developed innovative solutions to address water use?
• What does the future of geothermal energy production look like?

Speakers:

• Jim Faulds, University of Nevada, Reno, and Nevada State Geologist
• Jordan Macknick, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Andy Sabin, Navy Geothermal Program Office
• Moderator: Doug Hollett, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of Energy

Date: September 15, 2015 10:00 am
Location: 1324 Longworth House Office Building

Presented by: American Association for the Advancement of Science American Association of Petroleum Geologists American Geophysical Union American Geosciences Institute Association of American State Geologists Geological Society of America National Ground Water Association National Science Foundation—Directorate for Geosciences Soil Science Society of America U.S. Geological Survey

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