Energy Resources Program
During the past three decades, shallow- to intermediate-depth research wells have been drilled in the Imperial Valley (the Salton Sea, California, Scientific Drilling Project), at the Inyo Domes, California, in the Valles Caldera, New Mexico, and in the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest. In addition, reconnaissance-style drilling to determine heat flow and hydrologic characteristics was completed over much of the Western United States. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) participated in most of these multidisciplinary, multiagency projects. Among them are the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Long Valley Caldera Exploratory Well (LVEW), California, support for USGS projects in Hawai‘i (funded by the National Science Foundation), and multiagency projects at The Geysers, California. Foreign projects include those at Soultz sous-Forêt (France), Iceland, Tyrniauz (Russia), and several projects in Japan (for example, Kakkonda). USGS personnel were involved in the planning of scientific experiments at each of these sites.
Colin Williams Project Chief
In 2008 USGS Scientists completed an assessment of our Nation’s geothermal resources. Geothermal power plants are currently operating in six states: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah.
[+] Go to Press Release
Slide Presentation: The USGS National Geothermal Resource Assessment Colin F. Williams, USGS, Menlo Park, CABrenda S. Pierce , USGS, Reston, VAFlash Document (10 MB) or PDF (10MB)
KQED QUEST TV story, "Geothermal Heats Up" featuring USGS Scientist, Colin Williams
QUEST on KQED Public Media.
USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory Geothermal publications 1) The Plus Side of Volcanoes Geothermal Energy; and 2) Geothermal Energy and Hydrothermal Activity Fumaroles, Hot Springs, Geysers
Hydrologic Studies in Long Valley Caldera USGS Long Valley Observatory
Idaho National Laboratory INL is a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory dedicated to supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's missions in nuclear and energy research, science, and national defense.
Geothermal Energy Program U.S. Department of Energy Program to work in partnership with U.S. industry to establish geothermal energy as an economically competitive contributor to the U.S. energy supply.
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Map showing Earth’ s main lithospheric plates and some of the world’s active volcanoes (triangles).
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Page Last Modified: Friday, October 05, 2012