Assessment of Moderate- and High-Temperature Geothermal Resources of the United States

TLDR

The U.S. Geological Survey has completed a national assessment of geothermal resources, noting that geothermal power plants currently operate in six states: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, and Utah.

Abstract

Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently 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. The assessment indicates that the electric power generation potential from identified geothermal systems is 9,057 Megawatts-electric (MWe), distributed over 13 states. The mean estimated power production potential from undiscovered geothermal resources is 30,033 MWe. Additionally, another estimated 517,800 MWe could be generated through implementation of technology for creating geothermal reservoirs in regions characterized by high temperature, but low permeability, rock formations.