Geothermal Electric Power Production in the United States: A Suvey and Update for 1990-1994

Abstract

This survey presents the geothermal power developments durins the last five vears in the United States. role of geotiiermal energy is described relative to other forms of generation. A state-bv-state review shows that California and are making significant use of geothermal energy, having 98 percent of all the U.S. installed aeothermal Dower caoacitv. Even though cbntinues. is than during By the year 2000, California and Nevada may realize increments of 242 and 205 MW, respectively. BY then, the list of states with operating 'power plants could grow from the current California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah to include Alaska, New Mexico and Oregon. By the end of the mil'lennium, the United States installed capacity could reach nearly 3400 MW, if all the planned additions materialize. However, a morerealistic assessment anticipates only 2237 of actual, operable geothermal capacity.