1. By: Macy Gatlin, Jeffre’ Prentiss & Christina Bustamante
Geothermal Energy
By: Macy Gatlin, Jeffre’ Prentiss & Christina Bustamante

2. What is Geothermal Energy?
Geothermal energy refers to the production of energy using the internal heat of the Earth’s crust
The production of geothermal energy involves drilling wells into the Earth’s crust at a depth of about 3-10 km. The heat is usually drawn from the Earth by using water or steam.

3. How does it work?
Electricity is generated when geothermal heat produces steam and spins turbines on a generator.

4. How could geothermal energy be used?
Used to heat homes
Done by either directly circulating the hot water through buildings or by pumping it in through a heat exchanger that transfers the heat to a building
Used for electricity
The warm water vapor from underground geothermal reservoirs is captured. The vapor is led through pipes to steam turbines where the electricity is generated

5. Examples of current use
Its current use include heating buildings (either individually or whole towns), raising plants in greenhouses, drying crops, heating water at fish farms, and several industrial processes, such as pasteurizing milk.

6. Apparent Environmental Issues
Water Quality and Consumption
Geothermal energy mostly uses closed-looped water systems, water is pumped back into geothermal reservoir after being used for heat or electricity
Air Emissions
Gases removed from well are not exposed to the atmosphere
SO2 Emissions are approximately 30 times lower than coal plants
small amounts of mercury produced
Land Use
Amount od land required depends on research reservoir, amount of capacity, type of energy conversion system, type of cooling system, arrangement of wells and piping systems, substation and auxiliary building needs
Life-Cycle Global Warming
Some emissions associated with plant construction and surrounding infrastructure

7. Hidden Environmental & Social Costs
None such as land
Low Cost

8. Widely Accepted Or Nah?
Yes, because it is renewable

9. Are costs prohibitive for common use?
No, it is clean, low costing, and it is renewable