WASHINGTON - The Geothermal Exchange Organization (GEO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC), with the goal of promoting “mutual interests through cooperation in the field of public outreach for improved understanding of geothermal technologies and their environmental, economic, and societal benefits.”

GEO is a nonprofit, national trade association for the geothermal heat pump industry in the United States. The GRC is a nonprofit educational association, serving geothermal professionals worldwide, with a primary focus on power development.

“Our five-year agreement recognizes that cooperation between our groups for public outreach will help spread the good word about geothermal development in all of its forms, from residential and commercial geothermal heat pumps to spinning electric power turbines with high-pressure steam,” said Douglas Dougherty, GEO president and CEO. The nonbinding agreement includes:

• Mutual corporate-level organization membership at no cost (organization to organization only, does not include individuals);

• Cooperative outreach to a variety of publics, including government institutions and officials, academic and research institutions, and nonprofit organizations;

• Voluntarily working together on public outreach and joint participation in conferences and other gatherings; and,

• Exchange of technical data and information relating to geothermal energy and technologies and their societal benefits.

Publication date: 05/30/2011