SOLAR TODAY Blog

By Seth Masia
Solar Today deputy editor

The Geothermal Energy Association reported yesterday that in the year ending last October, the United States boosted its installed geothermal electric generating capacity to 3,152.7 megawatts, an increase of roughly 9 percent over the previous year.

Aided by roughly $342 million in new Department of Energy funding for research, development and demonstration projects, the industry pushed work forward on 132 projects, mostly in Western states.

California remains the leading state in geothermal electric generating capacity, producing 2,605 MW, or 4.5 percent of all power sold in the state. Nevada (448 MW) and Utah (47 MW) are a distant second and third.

In terms of growth, however, Nevada is the clear leader, with roughly 3,400 MW under development compared to California's  roughly 2,000 MW. Projects completed or now in development hold promise to provide roughly 11 percent of Nevada's power needs and almost 6 percent of California's.