
Clean Power Comes on Strong: Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy is right under our feet. The Earth's core is like an inner sun, heating the Earth's surface and warming
the water and rocks beneath. This steaming water and rock can be used to generate heat and electricity. The uppermost six miles of the Earth's crust alone contains more energy than all the oil and gas reserves in the world.
Geothermal resources are abundant, affordable, and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Currently, geothermal energy provides enough electricity to power nearly 4 million American homes. Using existing technology, geothermal power plants run more efficiently and reliably than do coal and nuclear facilities.
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that geothermal power plants prevent some 22 million tons of carbon dioxide from escaping into the atmosphere every year, helping curb global warming by reducing pollution from our nation’s biggest culprits, coal-fired
power plants.
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Photo courtesy National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
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