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Geothermal Power: Radical Environmentalists Can't Make Up Their Minds

Oregon has been identified as one of the leading places on the planet for the harnessing of geothermal power, which is derived from the heat naturally occurring inside the earth. Most current technology sends water into the earth where it is heated into steam, which then comes back out and turns a turbine that produces electricity. Geothermal power plants have the smallest surface footprint among renewable forms of energy.

Many environmentally consciences college students were pleased when the Oregon Institute of Technology decided to build a $7.6 million geothermal power plant on campus to become the only university to be powered completely by geothermal energy.

On one hand… According to the Environmental Defense Fund’s website, “Geothermal...is not dependent on a sunny or a windy day. It is available virtually 100 percent of the time and therefore doesn't require a back-up fossil fuel power plant or energy storage capacity. Geothermal is clean and safe…it is also sustainable. And it can be scaled up to generate power for major metropolitan areas. Geothermal's potential is enormous. The amount of heat within 10,000 meters (about 33,000 feet) of Earth's surface contains 50,000 times more energy than all the oil and natural gas resources in the world…geothermal could provide between 4 and 20 percent of current U.S. electricity needs by 2025. It is already price competitive with coal-fired power plants in many places.”

Last year, $3 billion was invested in disclosed geothermal deals in 2007 and more than $30 billion could be invested in the coming years world-wide. Central Oregon's Newberry Crater is said to be one of the best geothermal resource in the world. A proposed plant there would be at least a $400 million projects, bringing much needed money and jobs to the region. The project could power as many as 100,000 homes, would have almost zero emissions, would have low visibility compared to other power plants, and is a truly renewable resource. It would offset millions of tons of CO2 per year.

Unfortunately, small fringe groups in Oregon have succeeded in stopping this environmentally friendly advancement.

But on the other hand… In fall of 2007 approval was given for tests to be done on a 5-acre site outside the boundaries of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument to asses the possibility of producing renewable clean power for possibly 100,000 households in Oregon. The Juniper Group appealed the decision to prevent the this environmentally friendly project from moving forward. The groups website says, “Months later, our appeal is still pending while we continue to assess legal options to rescind and/or modify the agency's decision and halt ongoing exploration activities.”

Photo: An Italian geothermal plant.

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Radio Ads Hit the Airwaves Listen Oppose Oregon's Gas Tax Hike

Geothermal Power: Radical Environmentalists Can't Make Up Their Minds

Radio Ads Hit the Airwaves Listen

Oppose Oregon's Gas Tax Hike