Congress Gets Heat from Geothermal Group

I have a feeling geothermal is the dark horse in the renewable energy race. Maybe it just sounds simple: poke a few holes in the ground, pump some water into hot rock, and use the steam to get clean energy day-in, day-out.

To really become a force, though, the industry's going to need funding and the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) says that Congress isn't keeping its promises. Last December, lawmakers passed legislation for an enhanced geothermal research program. The problem is that the new FY 2009 budget doesn't include the initiative. Part of the 2007 energy bill, the legislation's purpose was to "direct the Secretary of Energy to conduct a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for geothermal energy, and for other purposes."

Congress also ensured $20 million for the Department of Energy's research efforts in the technology after the Bush Administration planned to cut geothermal's funding for FY 2008. Then, last month, a dozen Senators sent a letter to DOE Secretary Bodman urging his agency to move forward immediately with the new geothermal research law. “An important part of the Energy Independence and Security Act, HR 6, are the provisions that authorize and direct the Department of Energy to undertake a broad, new advanced geothermal energy research program,” the Senators told Bodman.

The Geothermal Energy Association is seeking $77.5 million in funding for FY 2009. But if legislators don't cough it up, it sounds like Google might. Dan Reicher, director of climate change and energy initiatives for Google.org, the company's philanthropic arm, announced that the organization will be funding universities and companies doing research and business in advanced geothermal.