Geothermal Education: A Campaign for Sustainability

Abstract

Geothermal projects and operations are besieged not only with technical challenges but also with concerns on regulatory compliance, economic, political as well as social aspects. Regulatory compliance may be resolved through technological measures implemented by the geothermal industry. Economic and political issues may be discussed and negotiated among corporate and government leaders. Social issues may be managed through company outreach programs, among which may be through Geothermal Education. A pilot project on geothermal education campaign was launched in year 2000 in the geothermal community of Tiwi, Albay, Philippines, with the following objectives: 1)To promote safety practices among school children and residents in the geothermal community; 2) To raise awareness of geothermal operations, benefits and concerns; 3) To facilitate sharing of this geothermal learning with the school children’s parents; and 4) To provide an avenue for proactive communication between the geothermal industry and its host community. The Geothermal Education Campaign was triggered by safety concerns for children involving geothermal facility (pipeline and sump) related incidents. The geothermal industry solicited the support of the Department of Education and the local government, and then initiated geothermal workshops for the school teachers. The school teachers designed the geothermal education program, creatively integrating it with their respective grade school lessons in science, language arts, or other classroom teachings. The geothermal industry provided the materials and resource speakers during the workshops and initial classroom instructions. This paper relates the Geothermal Education Campaign experience in the Philippines' first geothermal project area – the challenges, the benefits and the drawbacks. It also discusses how an effective Geothermal Education Campaign could promote and sustain the worldwide development of geothermal energy that is mutually beneficial to involved stakeholders: the local government, the regulatory agencies, the school institutions, the community residents and the geothermal industry. The geothermal industry’s desire for project sustainability can only be as strong as its Corporate Social Responsibility, and Geothermal Education is a valuable tool in realizing this goal.