The increasing desire for renewable energy sources as an alternative to fossil fuels has many utilities and communities looking to tap the earth's energy to power and heat homes.
"Tighter emissions controls and rising fuel costs are spurring demand for renewable energy, prompting utilities around the world to tap underground resources previously considered too costly to develop. Global geothermal capacity will rise as much as 10 percent a year through 2010, three times the pace of the past decade, the International Geothermal Association forecasts.
Geothermal plants, which use energy from hot springs or underground steam fields to produce power, are not affected by oil prices, which doubled in the past three years, and they face no emission penalties. Unlike wind- or solar-powered plants, they are not weather-dependent and can run 24 hours a day.
'We like geothermal,' said Stuart Hemphill, director of renewable and alternative energy at Southern California Edison, the biggest U.S. retailer of renewable energy in 2005. 'It's a very consistent, reliable source of renewable energy.' "
Read the full story: Geothermal power moves ahead as reliable source of renewable energy
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet
Get ready for that new train smell and more seats. But they won’t go faster or run more frequently on the Cascades route in Washington and Oregon.
Record-breaking wildlife overpass in Colorado brings 91% reduction in animal collisions
Prior to the overpass, vehicles were hitting one deer per day on Colorado’s Interstate 25.
Detroit to transform waterfront with $2.2 billion investment
Developers will convert about 18 acres of unused parking lot space into civic spaces.
‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan
Maryland's proposed six-year plan provides no funding for Baltimore’s BMORE bus program and reduces its road maintenance funding.
Trump wants to cancel nearly 98% of funding for HUD housing support program
Multiple housing groups are suing the administration in an effort to preserve the funding.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello