The Great Basin region of Nevada and its neighboring states may hold the key to a significant increase in the United States’ geothermal energy production. The Energy Act of 2020 charged the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) with assessing the nation’s geothermal potential. They’re now putting together an overall scorecard. Their findings suggest that geothermal resources in the Great Basin could potentially provide up to 10% of the country’s electricity needs.
The Great Basin stretches across the majority of eastern California, as well as into Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah. It includes large sections where heat is concentrated under thick, impermeable rock layers. This geologic characteristic renders it a great candidate for extracting geothermal energy. Yet, geothermal power today provides just under 1% of our national energy mix. According to a new report from the USGS, long-term prospects are really looking up for this earth-powering renewable energy source.
The bulk of geothermal energy is derived from hydrothermal systems, in which groundwater circulates through hot rocks. Based on USGS observations, there’s an increasing potential for baseload power generation in the Great Basin. This new figure is an even larger increase than previously estimated. That makes this new assessment an invaluable tool in meeting the urgent need for clean, renewable energy sources. It gets us one step closer to fighting climate change and reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.
Historically, the Great Basin was one of the last regions in the lower 48 states to be mapped during the 1800s. Geological surveys on public lands in this region were the impetus for establishing today’s USGS. It’s time for this important agency, which was established in 1879, to catch up! This exploration legacy has now been furthered by a renewed interest in the geothermal opportunities of the area.
After completing its first assessment of the Great Basin, the USGS intends to move on to future assessments of the Williston Basin in North Dakota. These continuing initiatives are indicative of a nationwide commitment to discover hidden energy potential.
“USGS assessments of energy resources are about the future.” – USGS acting director Sarah Ryker
Sarah Ryker, the U.S. Geological Survey’s acting director, reiterated the need to investigate undiscovered resources. She said, “We’re looking at those unexplored resources that haven’t even been explored yet, let alone developed. We started this project in the Great Basin in part because it’s a place with such a deep history of geothermal culture. Yet we found far greater baseload power potential than anyone knew existed. With this foundational work as our base, we can deploy artificial intelligence/machine learning techniques to further this work. This new approach will help us better assess the whole nation’s geothermal energy potential faster and with greater precision.
Geothermal energy technologies have become more nimble in the last few decades. This advancement, particularly when applied to the geothermal and oil and gas industries, has resulted in improved efficiency in extraction. Taken together, these advancements have great potential to increase U.S. energy security and sustainability.