technology – Jessica S. McKenzie

What Will It Take for Geothermal To Heat Up the Renewable Energy Sector?

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Geothermal energy’s potential contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is enormous. Just 0.1 percent of the Earth’s heat could provide enough energy to power the world for two million years. And every gigawatt of energy from geothermal resources offsets approximately 380 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Yet geothermal energy is responsible for less than 1% of the total electricity generation in the United States.

So why has it been so slow to tap into this vast and essentially inexhaustible resource? And how might that soon change?

Bulletin: Casino gambles on geothermal—and wins big

Using geothermal fluid in heating and cooling systems can help big institutions, like universities, city governments, and even upscale resorts save money and reduce their carbon footprint. The geothermal system at the Peppermill Reno Resort paid for itself in three years, two years faster than expected.

The Counter: Gardening could be an essential part of astronaut self-care

Indoor farming is helping an isolated NASA crew thrive in Antarctica, and could reap future psychological benefits for space explorers.

Grist: This power plant stopped burning fossil fuels. Then Bitcoin came along.

On the sleepy shores of New York’s Seneca Lake, a cryptocurrency company is showing how Bitcoin can keep fossil fuel use alive.

This article was republished by Mother Jones as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

The Counter: What does a vertical farm taste like?

Indoor farming companies—like Kimbal Musk’s Square Roots—claim their methods can replicate any climate on earth, resulting in better-tasting produce.