USA, Nevada:

Geothermal Energy Taking Hold, to Nevada's Benefit (KTVN)

GRC Member Josh Nordquist boosts geothermal energy in the Silver State

We've heard for years that cheap energy may lie right under our feet, or from the sun. Reno is a Saudi Arabia in one kind of energy: geothermal. GRC Member Josh Nordquist of Ormat Technologies tells KTVN News, “The best part of geothermal is that it's there all the time. It's sustainable, base-load and reliable."

Northern Nevada is ranked number one in the nation when it comes to installed geothermal energy. It's all closer to the surface here. Geothermal is hotter than ever, pardon the pun. The process is simple. As Nordquist put it, "Geothermal fluid processes through our plant and generates power."

It's so untapped, geothermal supplies only 9% of our power through NV Energy, ranking third behind natural gas and coal. It would be higher…if fossil fuel prices weren't so low. But Nordquist looks ahead. He told us, "Fossil fuel prices traditionally cycle up and down, and we're in a low cycle now, which means after a low cycle it usually becomes a higher cycle." When those prices go up, this energy from below will be here for the taking. When that happens, geothermal will go on a hiring binge. Nordquist predicts "Somewhere around 500 jobs are created for each project that comes online."

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