http://www.gtherm.net Environmentally Sound Geothermal Technology Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/11/business/energy-environment/renewable-energy-advances-in-the-us-despite-obstacles.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/11/business/energy-environment/renewable-energy-advances-in-the-us-despite-obstacles.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000 NYT > Geothermal Power http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/11/business/energy-environment/renewable-energy-advances-in-the-us-despite-obstacles.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss Learn more]]> With natural gas cheap and incentives lacking, energy sources like wind and solar power have lost the support they had in recent years. Still, projects continue to move forward.]]> http://www.gtherm.net/2012/04/11/renewable-energy-advances-in-the-u-s-despite-obstacles/feed/ 0 http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=18227 http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=18227#comments Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:00:00 +0000 EERE Network News http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=18227 Learn more]]> http://www.gtherm.net/2012/04/04/ball-state-completes-largest-u-s-ground-source-geothermal-system/feed/ 0 http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/2012/03/senate-debates-energy-issues-tough.html http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/2012/03/senate-debates-energy-issues-tough.html#comments Fri, 09 Mar 2012 22:27:00 +0000 The GEA Learn more]]>
If you had been scrolling through the cable channels and happened to see C-Span 2's coverage of the Senate yesterday, it would have seemed that the Senate was fervently debating national energy legislation. However, it was debating amendments to the Highway Bill which has become the target for a wide range of amendments. From oil dependence to EPA emissions regulations and renewable energy, Senators took to the floor to make impassioned arguments about a series of amendments being considered and systematically voted on.

A critical amendment which renewable groups were keenly watching was proposed by Senator Stabenow (S. AMDT. 1812). It would extend expiring tax credits for geothermal, wind, solar and other technologies for another year. "In order to avoid layoffs [in the wind industry] it is critical for the PTC to be extended immediately," argued Rob Gramlich of AWEA. The PTC for wind projects expires at the
end of 2012.


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]]> http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/feeds/2812877840258963654/comments/default 0 http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/2012/03/senate-debates-energy-issues-tough.html http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/2012/03/senate-debates-energy-issues-tough.html#comments Fri, 09 Mar 2012 22:27:00 +0000 The GEA Learn more]]>
If you had been scrolling through the cable channels and happened to see C-Span 2's coverage of the Senate yesterday, it would have seemed that the Senate was fervently debating national energy legislation. However, it was debating amendments to the Highway Bill which has become the target for a wide range of amendments. From oil dependence to EPA emissions regulations and renewable energy, Senators took to the floor to make impassioned arguments about a series of amendments being considered and systematically voted on.

A critical amendment which renewable groups were keenly watching was proposed by Senator Stabenow (S. AMDT. 1812). It would extend expiring tax credits for geothermal, wind, solar and other technologies for another year. "In order to avoid layoffs [in the wind industry] it is critical for the PTC to be extended immediately," argued Rob Gramlich of AWEA. The PTC for wind projects expires at the
end of 2012.


Read more »

]]> http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/feeds/2812877840258963654/comments/default 0 http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/2012/03/state-department-energy-bureau-chief.html http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/2012/03/state-department-energy-bureau-chief.html#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:55:00 +0000 The GEA Learn more]]> The establishment of an Energy Bureau at the Department of State is viewed by many as a signal of the increased priority the Administration is giving to energy issues and to renewable energy in particular. 

By Alison Holm, GEA ~ Last week, Ambassador Carlos Pascual, who was appointed Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs at the State Department last year and tasked with establishing the new Bureau of Energy Resources, briefed the Department of Commerce’s Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee (RE&EEAC) on the developing Energy Bureau at a Committee meeting in Washington, DC.  The establishment of an Energy Bureau at the Department of State is viewed by many as a signal of the increased priority the Administration is giving to energy issues and to renewable energy in particular.

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]]> http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/feeds/8741789593878800533/comments/default 0 http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/2012/03/robust-geothermal-growth-expected-even.html http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/2012/03/robust-geothermal-growth-expected-even.html#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 19:52:00 +0000 The GEA Learn more]]> EIA's Annual Energy Outlook projects 6% geothermal of total US renewable power by 2035

The Energy Information Agency (EIA) issued its report this week, Annual Energy Outlook 2012, which projects US renewable power production more than doubling by 2035, even with the expiration of federal tax credits (see: http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/er/).  The report projects robust growth for geothermal, which is expects to triple its production by 2035 outpacing the overall trend.

According to EIA, "Growth in renewable generation is supported by many State requirements, as well as new regulations on CO₂ emissions in California.  The share of U.S. electricity generation coming from renewable fuels (including conventional hydropower) grows from 10% in 2010 to 16% in 2035. In the AEO2012 Reference case, Federal subsidies for renewable generation are assumed to expire as enacted.  Extensions of such subsidies could have a large impact on renewable generation."   EIA has indicated it will be conducting a study of expected renewable growth with an extension of the tax credits for release separately.

EIA's 2012 Outlook's projections show geothermal power growing from 2.6 Gigawatts of capacity to 6.41 Gigawatts, and production increasing from 16.42 billion kilowatt hours to 47.4 billion kilowatt hours.  The geothermal production is all from utility scale systems, with EIA having no projection for small or distributed generation using geothermal technologies or coproduction.  In 2035, geothermal is projected to provide 6% of the total US renewable power produced, making it the third largest non-hydro source of renewable power generation, behind wind and biomass.

]]> http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/feeds/6817647931881653424/comments/default 0 http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/2012/02/washington-state-legislature-considers.html http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/2012/02/washington-state-legislature-considers.html#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:23:00 +0000 The GEA Learn more]]>

The Washington State legislature is considering potential changes to the state’s geothermal law (Chapter 78.60 Revised Code of Washington), following up on last year's effort.  The bill seeks to bring Washington’s law in line with federal laws and other states’ laws, as part of an effort to promote geothermal development in the state.

Washington currently defines geothermal resources as "only that natural heat energy of the earth from which it is technologically practical to produce electricity commercially…” Since current technology makes it possible to produce power at much lower temperatures than was possible when the definition was adopted in the 1970s, this definition is impractical and inconsistent with other definitions of the resource. Professor Hiatt of Harvard Business School has found that inconsistent definitions of geothermal resources are significant barriers to geothermal development. To remedy this problem, the bill would replace the current definition with one that combines federal and California definitions, similar to Oregon’s approach.

Ownership of geothermal resources would also be addressed in the bill. Under current Washington law the surface landowner owns underlying geothermal resources. The bill would authorize reservation or conveyance of geothermal resources separate from the land surface. This change would reduce risk for developers, and would avoid conflicts where geothermal resources have previously been reserved or conveyed by the federal government. The state would also benefit by being able to reserve geothermal resources - and receive income streams from geothermal development - following conveyance of state lands.

The regulation of water, which is the medium for heat transfer, is also addressed in the bill. Washington's current law provides that Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the lead agency for geothermal projects, may not approve operation of a geothermal well that will negatively impact other uses of groundwater. This bill clarifies the circumstances in which the water code will apply to use of water for geothermal projects. It exempts certain uses of water from the appropriation procedure of the water code, based in part on Nevada law. The bill adds provisions requiring coordination between DNR and Department of Ecology, the agency changed with water management. These provisions are intended to avoid overlapping permits and duplication of effort by state agencies, while ensuring that agency concerns are discussed and addressed.

In a housekeeping measure, the bill would renew a provision that had sunseted in the current law, authorizing the state to receive and manage a share of royalties from federal leases. 

The bill (SB 6285) can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/ENRM/Documents/PSsDRAFTs/S-4071.1.pdf

Author bio: Kathleen Callison is an attorney with areas of practice in water, reclaimed water, geothermal and mineral resources. She has written and spoken extensively on geothermal laws and regulations, and can be reached at Callison@CallisonLaw.com.

]]> http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/feeds/8765719093659150055/comments/default 0 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/greathomesanddestinations/a-texas-developer-attempts-to-upend-the-american-subdivision.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/greathomesanddestinations/a-texas-developer-attempts-to-upend-the-american-subdivision.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000 NYT > Geothermal Power http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/greathomesanddestinations/a-texas-developer-attempts-to-upend-the-american-subdivision.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss Learn more]]> A development in Austin, Tex., is an ambitious attempt to upend the conventions of the American subdivision.]]> http://www.gtherm.net/2012/02/02/a-texas-developer-attempts-to-upend-the-american-subdivision/feed/ 0 http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=18002 http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=18002#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000 EERE Network News http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=18002 Learn more]]> http://www.gtherm.net/2012/01/18/u-s-tops-2011-clean-energy-investments-report/feed/ 0 http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-years-resolutions-for-geothermal.html http://geo-energy.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-years-resolutions-for-geothermal.html#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:51:00 +0000 The GEA Learn more]]> Geothermal industry leads the way towards a more sustainable 2012

Washington, DC (December 20, 2011) -In 2011, the geothermal industry continued to build upon the growth of the last decade. Over the past year, increased activity in the areas of resource, technology, workforce and policy development have positioned the industry for increased growth in 2012. As the industry looks towards the new year, the Geothermal Energy Association has identified the top trends and accomplishments of 2011 that the industry will build upon in the upcoming months.


“Geothermal energy is an extremely important element of a successful renewable and sustainable future in the United States,” said GEA Executive Director Karl Gawell. “The progress made by geothermal in 2011 was substantial, and we look forward to continued growth in the year ahead.”

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