Seven new geothermal projects came online in three US states in 2012, delivering enough new power to meet the residential needs of a city the size of Vancouver or Washington.
According to the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), California, Nevada and Oregon all saw new projects and additions during the year, totalling 147.05 MW of gross capacity – a 5% increase compared to 2011.
Some additional highlights of geothermal industry development in the US in 2012 include:
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The first hybrid solar-geothermal project was commissioned
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The first co-production of geothermal power at a gold mine was commissioned in Nevada.
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The first in a decade high-temperature flash steam geothermal power plant was brought online in California
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The first utility-scale geothermal power plant in Oregon was brought online
In a statement on its website, the GEA said: “The geothermal industry is poised to build on its 2012 successes in the coming year. Across the globe more and more countries are unearthing their geothermal potential…As the U.S. and nations around the world look to replace fossil fuels to minimize the threat of global warming, geothermal power will grow in its value and importance in the years ahead.”