Exploration Potential for New Hydrothermal Resources for Electrical Power Generation in the 48 Contiguous United States

Abstract

A new round of reconnaissance exploration is needed din the conterminous United States to help supply a list of viable prospects for detailed exploration and development. Risks will be greater than they have been in the past because the easy discoveries, those having surface geothermal manifestations, have been made. In this article, I review thought on the potential for development of electrical grade hydrothermal resources over the next two decades under the assumption that the needed exploration will be done. Without doing an exhaustive analysis of potential, I conclude that, in addition to the geothermal power already being generated, there is potential for development of the following amounts over the next 10 to 20 years: Imperial Valley, 750 MWe; the Geysers megadistrict, 500 MWe; the Cascades, 750 MWe; the Basin and Range, 2,000 MWe; the Rio Grande Rift, 500 MWe; the Snake River Plain, 100 MWe; the Northern Rocky Mountains, 100 MWe; and miscellaneous other areas, 100 MWe. This leads to a total potential over the next two decades for development of a further 4,800 MWe of geothermal electrical power. In order for this potential to be realized, greatly accelerated exploration will be needed and a better market for geothermal electricity sales will have to be developed. Implementation by public utility commissions of least cost planning with environmental externalities is the key to this better market.