Dec. 31, 2012: Geothermal Industry Ends 2012 on a High Note
WASHINGTON — The past 12 months saw continued economic challenges for many American industries, including those in the renewable energy field, but the country’s geothermal community witnessed a year of growth, both domestically and abroad, according to the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA). The GEA expressed optimism for 2013, while looking back on a difficult yet successful 2012.
In 2012, seven new geothermal energy projects and additions came online in the United States, totaling 147.05 MW of gross capacity. This represents the second highest increase in geothermal power capacity over a calendar year since the production tax credit (PTC) was extended to geothermal in 2005, and a 5 percent increase over 2011 year-end data. The capacity added in 2012 would meet the residential needs of a city the size of Vancouver, Wash., or Kansas City, Kan.