By Riley I Grentzinger
and
Maximillin J Hardy
Resources:
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/how-geothermal-energy-works.html
Written by Union of Concerned Scientists

http://www.nrel.gov/learning/re_geothermal.html
Written by National Renewable Energy Laboratory

http://www.ehow.com/about_4812930_pros-cons-geothermal-energy.htm
Written by Alyson Paige, E-How Contributor

http://www.our-energy.com/energy_facts/geothermal_energy_facts.html.
Written by Our Energy.com

The planet's demand for renewable, clean energy is increasing. One of these sources is geothermal. This energy source has no pollutants and is renewable. Geothermal energy is everywhere on the planet from some where in China to your own home.external image pros-cons-geothermal-energy-2.1-800x800.jpg
The word geothermal means "Earth-Heat" (geo=earth, thermal=heat). An example of geothermal energy is the geysers and hot springs in Yellowstone National Park. In a geyser, water is heated and pressurized until finally when pressure is too great, it erupts. In a geothermal power plant the heated water (steam) is used to turn a turbine connected to a generator.
external image geopower1.gif

Geothermal energy accounts for 26% of energy in Iceland and 20% in U.S. Many homes over the world are heated with geothermal energy. By the year 2050 the U.S. plans to dig more wells and make geothermal energy available in all states. Basically geothermal energy works like this, water is pumped below the surface of the Earth, it is then heated and turned into steam. This steam then turns a turbine in turn spinning an electrical generator creating electricity. Geothermal energy can also heat homes in a similar way.
external image pros-cons-geothermal-energy-3.1-800x800.jpg

Pros of geothermal energy include, it is a mostly clean energy source and can be made anywhere, and it is renewable and fairly inexpensive. Cons include, it can carry very minor pollutants if there were to be a leak, and although it can be anywhere, there aren't many practical locations because of fault lines, volcanos and other seismic activity.


external image images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSaNLuRgRODnqU5rVkNptUkhm8rzRZJ-C1ODwKsxJIng7kztbVbQ