Obama and Green Power

[Seeker]

I studied environmental geology, so I was fascinated by this Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA27aEamWzY

I was especially intrigued by the presenters statement that they could drill anywhere and create a geothermal well anywhere, which was considered futuristic when I was in university.

I know that President Obama in the US is supposed to be a big 'green' power supporter, and if "dry" geothermal works like this presentation says, it seems superior to most other 'green' power sources, especially solar.

So my question is Does the Obama 'Green' Power budget go after 'dry' geothermal power in a big way? And if not, why?

[Kuciwalker]

And if not, why?

I'm going to go with "public policy is not decided by snazzy Youtube videos" for $400, Alex.

[Seeker]

So that is why there are still so many Reptilian Shapechangers in high places!

[Ben Kenobi]

So my question is Does the Obama 'Green' Power budget go after 'dry' geothermal power in a big way? And if not, why?

If Obama doesn't like Nuclear energy, he ain't gonna go for Geothermal. Nuclear is where it's at, baby.

[Dinner]

I studied environmental geology, so I was fascinated by this Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA27aEamWzY

I was especially intrigued by the presenters statement that they could drill anywhere and create a geothermal well anywhere, which was considered futuristic when I was in university.

I know that President Obama in the US is supposed to be a big 'green' power supporter, and if "dry" geothermal works like this presentation says, it seems superior to most other 'green' power sources, especially solar.

So my question is Does the Obama 'Green' Power budget go after 'dry' geothermal power in a big way? And if not, why?

There is a geothermal gradient every where but in most places it is so small, meaning you'd have to drill so deep, that it is not economical in most places.

[notyoueither]

It's beginning to catch on in Alberta. A couple of recent major developments are using geothermal for heating and air conditioning. I'm not sure about power.

[Tuberski]

Sure, let's make H.G. Wells correct.......

ACK!

[Zkribbler]

It's beginning to catch on in Alberta. A couple of recent major developments are using geothermal for heating and air conditioning. I'm not sure about power.

Power's easy. You dump cold water down a tube and it comes up through another tube, having been turned to steam by Mother Gaia. The stream then drives a turbine.

But EcoTech on the Discovery Channel reports that when a geotermal plant was re-opened in California, seimic activity in the area increased.

[FrostyBoy]

You just can't win. ****itol.

[Zkribbler]

Solar-ink power:

[FrostyBoy]

When birds and insects fly over the solar panels, don't they disintegrate?

[Zkribbler]

...So my question is Does the Obama 'Green' Power budget go after 'dry' geothermal power in a big way? And if not, why?

Probably not...at least not yet. This is from his website:

Progress
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included more than $60 billion in clean energy investments that will jump-start our economy and build the clean energy jobs of tomorrow:
$11 billion for a bigger, better, and smarter grid that will move renewable energy from the rural places it is produced to the cities where it is mostly used, as well as for 40 million smart meters to be deployed in American homes.
$5 billion for low-income home weatherization projects.
$4.5 billion to green federal buildings and cut our energy bill, saving taxpayers billions of dollars.
$6.3 billion for state and local renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts.
$600 million in green job training programs – $100 million to expand line worker training programs and $500 million for green workforce training.
$2 billion in competitive grants to develop the next generation of batteries to store energy.

Increasing, for the first time in more than a decade, the fuel economy standards for Model Year 2011 for cars and trucks so they will get better mileage, saving drivers money and spurring companies to develop more innovative products.

The President issued a memorandum to the Department of Energy to implement more aggressive efficiency standards for common household appliances, like dishwashers and refrigerators. Through this step, over the next three decades, we’ll save twice the amount of energy produced by all the coal-fired power plants in America in any given year.
Supporting the first steps of a legally-binding treaty to reduce mercury emissions worldwide.

On Earth Day 2009, the President unveiled a program to develop the renewable energy projects on the waters of our Outer Continental Shelf that produce electricity from wind, wave, and ocean currents. These regulations will enable, for the first time ever, the nation to tap into our ocean’s vast sustainable resources to generate clean energy in an environmentally sound and safe manner.

Guiding Principles
To take this country in a new direction, the President is working with Congress to pass comprehensive legislation to protect our nation from the serious economic and strategic risks associated with our reliance on foreign oil and the destabilizing effects of a changing climate. Policies to advance energy and climate security should promote economic recovery efforts, accelerate job creation, and drive clean energy manufacturing by:

Investing in the Clean Energy Jobs of the Future
President Obama does not accept a future in which the jobs and industries of tomorrow take root beyond our borders. It is time for the United States to lead again. Under President Obama, we will lead again, by developing an American clean energy industry, a 21st century economy that flourishes within our borders.

Creating new Jobs in the Clean Energy Economy. Drive the development of new, green jobs that pay well and cannot be outsourced.
Investing in the Next Generation of Energy Technologies. Invest $150 billion over ten years in energy research and development to transition to a clean energy economy.

In sum, he doesn't seem to be focusing on it. But if he's shown it's a safe and cost-efficient way of producing energy, I'm sure he'll support it.

[FrostyBoy]

Isn't making the Middle East irrelevant dangerous to our health?

[Patroklos]

But EcoTech on the Discovery Channel reports that when a geotermal plant was re-opened in California, seimic activity in the area increased.

This is the problem, in many cases the process involves fracturing and that can have unpredictable effects. Personally I am all for it, whatever effects these produce are probably less destuctive than the general polution from other sources.

[chequita guevara]

In Iceland, heavy geothermal use has caused many of their geysers to diminish. Too much drilling decreases their spurts.