Geothermal+Electricity

Geothermal energy is heat energy derived from the earth. Geothermal reservoirs are mainly used for commercial production of electricity.

Geothermal energy was used by the Paleo Indians over 10,000 years ago, using hot springs. They used them to cook, bathe and cleanse. Today they have created technologies that will allow them to probe more than ten miles underground and use geothermal energy to create electricity. As European settlers moved westward across the continent, they gravitated toward these springs of warmth and vitality. In 1807, the first European to visit the Yellowstone area, John Colter, probably encountered hot springs, leading to the designation "Colter's Hell." Also in 1807, settlers founded the city of Hot Springs, Arkansas, where, in 1830, Asa Thompson charged one dollar each for the use of three spring-fed baths in a wooden tub, and the first known commercial use of geothermal energy occurred. In 1960 the country's first large-scale geothermal electricity-generating plant begins operation. Pacific Gas and Electric operates the plant, located at The Geysers. The first turbine produces 11 megawatts (MW) of net power and operates successfully for more than 30 years. Today, 69 generating facilities are in operation at 18 resource sites around the country. Heat from the earth can be used as an energy source in many ways, from large and complex power stations to small and relatively simple pumping systems. This heat energy, known as geothermal energy, can be found almost anywhere—as far away as remote deep wells in Indonesia and as close as the dirt in our backyards. Below the Earth's crust, there is a layer of hot and molten rock called magma. Heat is continually produced there, mostly from the decay of naturally radioactive materials such as uranium and potassium. The amount of heat within 10,000 meters of Earth's surface contains 50,000 times more energy than all the oil and natural gas resources in the world. Like many other energy resources geothermal energy utilization brings alot of issues. The main areas of discussion about the pros and cons of geothermal energy are: - Environmental Friendliness - Reliability - Cost - Availability - Aesthetics - Sustainability Geothermal plants are emission free, and the environmental effects out way to cost by much.