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| (Courtesy USGS) |
Alaskan state officials have recently announced their intentions to begin funding the exploration and surveying of Alaska’s largest volcanoes in hopes of utilizing these as a source of geothermal energy which they say could provide enough energy to power thousands of households. According to some estimates these volcanoes and hot springs could supply up to 25% of the state’s energy needs. Could this be the beginning of an alternative energy revolution?
Officials are already set to begin auctioning off exploration rights – the first volcano to be tapped for geothermal power is Mount Spurr, a 3.4-km tall snow-capped stratovolcano in the Aleutian Volcanic Arc of Alaska. Another volcano considered for exploration is the Augustine stratovolcano, which resides near Anchorage and reaches 1.3 km in height.
