Potential of geothermal energy in Utah

Raser Technology, Thermo No1 plant, Utah (source: Raser)

Alexander Richter 1 Eyl 2010

A recent article looks at the geothermal potential in the Western United States and particularly Utah. The author looks at Raser Technologies and its activities and plant in Utah, government assistance and more.

“There are places where a vast amount of geothermal heat rises fairly close to the surface and is relatively easy to reach, transform into electricity and pump into the power grid for transmission to urban centers. A high number of such hot spots exist right here in Utah—second only to Nevada in discovered geothermal resources. The central Intermountain West (including Wyoming and Colorado) is often described as the “Saudi Arabia of geothermal energy.” And Utah has the added advantage of not only having an abundant supply of geothermal, but its geothermal resources are located on land where ample moving air could drive wind farms and regular sunshine could power solar facilities.

These thrice-blessed regions are also near existing power transmission lines, allowing all three types of renewable energy to get plugged into the grid at about the same point, an advantage similar zones in Nevada don’t share. In a word, Utah’s renewable power potential is almost ideal, and at least one company is going after it in a big way.”

For the full article see link below.

Source: Salt Lake City Weekly, Steam Dream: Utah’s Geothermal Potential (Jim Catano)