There is literally no end to the lengths modern man will go to in order to find new sources of energy. We have explored and use the atom, water, natural gas, the sun and the wind for this purpose. Using the earth's heat is yet another way to tap nature's power for our benefit. Geothermal energy is clean, reliable and renewable --- three of the most crucial elements in its favor - and is being funded by the U.S. Department of Energy as the next significant contributor to the energy mix in the West, at a time the region is experiencing power supply shortages.

Geothermal energy technologies use the heat of the earth for direct-use applications, geothermal heat pumps, and electrical power production. Although most of the geothermal resources are concentrated in the western U.S., geothermal heat pumps can be used anywhere. Locating geothermal resources is accomplished by geological, geochemical, and geophysical techniques. Drilling methods have been adapted from the oil industry, and the direct use of surface-close hot water can be used for heating commercial and industrial buildings. The direct use of geothermal hot water is particularly favored for greenhouse and aquaculture use. Electricity production relies on underground reservoirs of hot water or steam, heated by upwelling of magma. These technologies release little or no air emissions, a vast difference from emissions produced by conventional energy sources.

Earlier this month, Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson announced the creation of 21 partnerships between private industry and the DOE to develop and support the development of geothermal energy throughout the western United States. The projects will expand production and use energy generated from geothermal heat to millions of homes and businesses in California, Nevada, and Utah, with funding being carried on over a 3-5 year period.

The goal, according to Richardson, is to supply a full 10% of the West's energy needs with the use of geothermal resources by the year 2020.

The Energy Department will provide $3.5 million in first-year funding to 21 companies to expand, and for others to construct and operate new power plants, according to recent DOE sources. In addition, geothermal resource exploration will be funded to discover and develop new sites, both in surface exploration and exploratory well testing.

One such producer of geothermal energy, Calpine Corporation, will be showcasing the production of electricity using geothermal steam at their new $2.5 million Geothermal Visitor Center, now under construction in Middletown, Calif. The 6,050 square foot center is being designed with state-or-the-art energy efficiency methods, and will utilize a geothermal heat pump for both heating and cooling. It will include an energy exhibit hall, a multi-purpose room for luncheons and meetings, a conference room, snack bar, gift shop, catering kitchen and other amenities, which include a company kiosk for employment opportunities throughout the U.S.

Calpine, based in San Jose and in existence since 1984, began offering free public tours of its power plants this summer, although the source of this geothermal power at The Geysers has been producing commercial power for the past 40 years, according to senior vice president Fred Manuel. The August 14 ground breaking presentation for the new visitor center included plans to demonstrate the use of geothermal power with hands-on three-dimensional displays exploring the geology, well drilling technology, and the operation of both geothermal and natural gas power plants. It will also offer a vast topographical model of The Geysers showing the location of each of the 19 power plants in operation.

Located just north of the Napa Valley wine country, the new visitor center is slated to open in November, 2000, and will offer free tours. For more information, consumers may visit their Web site at www.calpine.com.

Published: August 16, 2000

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A veteran of the real estate and homebuilding industries since 1986, Dena Kouremetis first joined Realty Times as a new homes writer in 1998. Since then, she has authored four books, written consumer columns on new homes issues for websites and newspapers all across the country, contributed to builder trade magazines, appeared as a guest expert on several radio shows and even created a ten-chapter podcast for LendingTree.com’s homebuilder website, iNest.com, now available on iTunes, entitled Uncharted Waters; Navigating the Purchase of a New Production Home. Kouremetis recently joined her local Folsom, CA Coldwell Banker office as a broker associate while continuing to write for the real estate industry. For the past three years, she has been training real estate agents for both the resale and new homes industries, putting her experience, research expertise and gift of expression to work to help others entering the business.