Geothermal Energy 2005 in Review, 2006 Outlook

This has been a watershed year for geothermal energy, and the outlook for future growth is very strong,” said Karl Gawell, Executive Director of the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), the U.S. industry trade association. In 2005, a wave of new power production contracts were signed, new direct use projects were underway, federal tax and regulatory laws were substantially enhanced to promote geothermal development, and a series of other events boosted prospects for expanded geothermal energy production in the U.S., according to GEA.

Recent analysis produced for the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) demonstrates a near-term potential of 5,600 MW of new geothermal power. New power prospects were identified in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. Today geothermal electricity is produced in only four states, but with continued federal and state support, this could triple by 2010, according to GEA. Information on both the existing and new geothermal projects is available at: http://www.geo-energy.org/information/plants.asp

Growth continued for geothermal heat pumps installations. They were growing at an annual rate of 15 percent, with over 600,000 units installed in the U.S. New installations were occurring at a rate of 50,000 to 60,000 per year — the largest growth in the world for geothermal heat pumps.

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