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When it comes to supplying the country with reliable, renewable energy, geothermal technology is a great solution for the United States, but due to technical and nontechnical issues, only a fraction of its potential has been realized. The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) recently participated in a multiyear re- search collaboration with national laboratories, industry experts, and academics to assess ways to increase geothermal energy deployment through technological improvements, reducing costs, and mitigating barriers. The analysis also assessed the eco- nomic benefits to the U.S. geothermal industry and potential environmental impacts of increased deployment - including jobs, consumer energy prices, water use, and air quality - and investigated opportunities for desalination, mineral recovery, and hy- bridization with other energy technologies for greater efficiencies and lower costs. The study, GeoVision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath Our Feet includes a road map of items which can help the industry move toward widespread implementation. The GeoVision analysis reveals the unique characteristics of geothermal energy and its unrealized potential, including: j Nationwide energy applications through unique capabilities in electricity generation, as well as residential, commercial, and district heating and cooling j Ready-to-use commercial technologies, augmented by developing technologies with vast potential for increased elec- tricity generation and direct-use applications j Job impacts j Revenue potential for federal, state, and local stakeholders, as well as royalty potential for leaseholders. The analysis also used a suite of modeling tools and scenarios to evaluate the performance of geothermal technologies relative to other energy technologies. The analyses included evaluating the potential role of existing and future geothermal deployment in both the electric sector and the heating and cooling sector, as well as unconventional geothermal resources like enhanced geothermal systems, or EGS. In the heating and cooling sector, the analysis modeled geothermal heat pumps (GHPs), which are also known as ground source heat pumps, and distric heating systems (using both conventional and EGS resources). Key findings of the analysis include technology improvements which could reduce costs and increase geothermal electric power deployment. Improving the tools, technologies, and methodologies used to explore, discover, access, and manage geothermal resources could reduce both the costs and risks associated with geo- thermal developments which could poten- tially increase geothermal power generation by 2050. Additionally, the analysis sug- gests improving permitting timelines could be another step in reducing the costs asso- ciated with geothermal project development, potentially doubling installed geothermal capacity within the same time frame. America’s Underappreciated Energy Source Adapted from Information by the U.S. Department of Energy GEO Sunset over the DOE geothermal test site in Fallon, Nevada. Photo by Dick Benoit courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy. Information: Joel Walton jwalton022@aol.com • (225) 744-4554 www.lgwa.org January 9, 2020 Paragon Casino - Marksville, LA Tower or Atrium hotel rooms call (800) 642-7777 and refer to LGWA Annual 2020 conference use code LGWA 01G Registration starts at 7 am, Seminars start at 8 am (Cocktail hour, dinner, and BINGO at 6 pm the night before the convention [the 8th].) Louisiana Ground Water Association Convention & Trade Show 20 NOVEMBER 2019 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® A four-year old asks an average of 437 questions a day.