Group Report

Luiz Curry

Effects that scientists had long predicted would result

from global climate change are now occurring, such as
sea ice loss, accelerated sea level rise, and longer, more
intense heat waves.

Benefits of Geothermal Energy

Renewable—The heat flowing from Earth’s interior is continually replenished by the

decay of naturally occurring radioactive elements and will remain available for
billions of years.

Baseload—Geothermal power plants produce electricity consistently and can run

essentially 24 hours per day/7 days per week, regardless of weather conditions.

Domestic—U.S. geothermal resources can be harnessed for power production and

heating and cooling without importing fuel.

Small footprint—Geothermal power plants and geothermal heat pumps are

compact.Geothermal power plants use less land per gigawatt-hour (404 m2) than
comparable-capacity coal (3,642 m2), wind (1,335 m2), and solar photovoltaic (PV)
power stations (3,237 m2)*. GHPs can be retrofitted or integrated in new buildings.