Power Potential

Geothermal:

With 99% of the Earth's mass possessing a temperature greater than 1000 degrees Celsius there is far more energy stored in hot rocks than in all the fossil fuels combined. The recent MIT report on geothermal energy suggests that this source could provide as much as 10% of U.S. energy by 2050.

Coal, Natural Gas, Nuclear, Wind:

Fossil fuels are exhaustible, and extraction and supply costs are rising.

Space Required

Geothermal:

A geothermal canal can provide access to hundreds of square miles of hot rocks and produce massive amounts of electricity while requiring only minimal surface space for the power plant itself. In Massachusetts, where space is at a premium, this is highly attractive. A 160 MW plant using a heat canal, for instance, would require only ten acres.

Solar, Wind:

According to the DOE, a wind farm with the same electric generation potential would require 4600 acres, and over 1000 acres would be necessary for a solar array facility.

Emissions

Geothermal:

Since water is the fuel, there is no burning of any material, hence little if any CO2 emissions.

 Natural Gas:

According to the EPA, the average emissions rates in the United States from natural gas-fired generation are: 1135 lbs/MWH of carbon dioxide, 0.1 lbs/MWH of sulfur dioxide, and 1.7 lbs/MWH of nitrogen oxides. In addition, the process of extraction, treatment, and transport of the natural gas to the power plant generates additional emissions.

Security

Geothermal:

Geothermal energy greatly reduces security concerns by tapping into a domestic source of power and reducing risks of potential attacks on power facilities.

Oil, Natural Gas and Nuclear:

The United States is highly dependent on foreign oil and natural gas. Nuclear plants constitute a high security risk.

Safety

Geothermal:

The deep earth closed loop Geothermal power is safe. Even a total system failure (caused perhaps by a terrorist attack) would result only in a release of hot water into the atmosphere.

Coal, Natural Gas, Nuclear:

The consequences from a meltdown at a nuclear plant (owing either to malfunction or attack) are dire. An explosion at a fossil-fuel burning plant would result in fire and the release of toxins into the atmosphere.