The case for geothermal energy

Abstract

Geothermal energy has historically played a minor role in addressing the energy needs of the United States due to a number of factors, including the high front-end cost of systems and the fact that only certain locations had the geological features required to make energy extraction feasible. Mr. Cutright argues that new technologies and methods of harvesting geothermal energy have made geothermal energy more efficient and cost-effective than traditional hydrocarbon-based sources and the more widely used alternative energy sources such as solar and wind energy. He also discusses the use of ground source heat pumps to harvest geothermal energy on a smaller scale to provide heating and cooling for residential and commercial buildings.