Program champions renewable resource unique to western states

At a meeting in Reno, Nev., in July 2000, the U.S. Department of Energy, Sen. Harry Reid and the Geothermal Energy Association launched GeoPowering the West to dramatically increase the use of geothermal energy in the western United States.

The nation's geothermal resources for power generation are found in a number of states across the American West. GeoPowering the West works with the U.S. geothermal industry, power companies, industrial and residential consumers, and Federal, state, and local officials to raise awareness of the opportunities this natural resource represents.

The program pursues these opportunities by:

• Bringing together national, state and local stakeholders for state-sponsored geothermal development workshops;
  
• Working with public power companies and rural electric cooperatives to promote use of geothermal power;
  
• Promoting increased Federal use of geothermal energy;
  
• Helping American Indians identify and develop geothermal resources on tribal lands;
  
• Sponsoring non-technical educational workshops; and
  
• Providing technical and institutional support and limited, cost-shared funding to state-level activities.
  

The program estimates that fully developing the west's geothermal resources will attract billions of dollars in investment and income to the region over 20 years. From an environmental standpoint, the use of geothermal energy will displace 20 million tons of atmospheric carbon by 2020.