Government expands geothermal energy leasing of 190 million acres of federal land in a dozen Western states

The Interior Department plans to make available 190 million acres of federal land in a dozen Western states for development of geothermal energy projects – a move that could produce enough electricity for 5 million homes.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said Wednesday that under a leasing program, as many as 270 communities could benefit from direct use of geothermal energy, generated from intense heat deep beneath the Earth.

"Geothermal energy is replenished, is a renewable resource that generates electricity with minimal carbon emissions …(and) reduces the need for conventional energy sources," said Kempthorne.

By H. JOSEF HEBERT
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

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