Geothermal energy in the form of naturally occurring steam or hot water is used to generate electricity or to provide heat. Americans consume more than 300 trillion Btus of energy generated from geothermal resources. Geothermal resources provide 0.3 percent of America's total energy supply and generate about 0.3 percent of America's electricity. Geothermal electricity accounts for nearly 4 percent of all electricity derived from renewable resources.
Almost half (48 percent) of America's geothermal energy production occurs on Federal lands, primarily in the western United States. The three states with the most geothermal electricity generation potential are Nevada, California, and Utah. Nevada is one of the top producers of geothermal power, with 9% of northern Nevada's electricity being provided by geothermal energy.
The Bureau of Land Management manages approximately 400 geothermal leases and 34 geothermal power plants with a total capacity of over 1,250 megawatts, enough capacity to supply the electricity needs of over 1.2 million homes. Federal geothermal leases also supply direct heat for greenhouses and other uses. Since 2001, BLM has processed over 200 geothermal leases, compared to 20 leases issued between 1997 and 2000 and approved site licenses for more than 130MWs of geothermal power capacity.
As a result of recommendations designed to meet the goals of the National Energy Policy, the Departments of Interior and Energy published an April 2003 report, "Opportunities for Near-Term Geothermal Development in the Western United States" that identified areas appropriate for near-term geothermal development. The recently passed National Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires review and update of domestic geothermal resource assessments.
In addition, this Act significantly revised the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970. Planning efforts are underway to respond to this legislation and meet the demand for additional geothermal leasing. BLM authorizes the development of geothermal resources through a process similar to that of oil and gas.
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