Geothermal Energy—Canada, Mexico and the United States

Joel L. Renner
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID

World-wide, geothermal resources are most commonly associated with volcanic arcs (Indonesia, Japan, and Philippines) spreading centers (Salton Trough and East African Rift) and with hot spots (Hawaii, Iceland, Yellowstone). Near the margins of the Basin and Range in the U. S. geothermal activity is commonly associated with young Volcanism (Long Valley and Coso volcanic fields). Additional production is associated with deep fluid circulation in the Basin and Range thought to be localized by recent faulting and the higher than average crustal heat flow in much of the Basin and Range.

Geothermal energy is an important energy resource in Mexico and the western United States. Commission Federal de Electricidad produces electricity at Cerro Prieto (just south of Imperial Valley, California), Los Azufres and Tres Virgenes. In the U. S. about 2020 MWe of electrical generation capacity is on-line in California (7 fields), Hawaii (1 field), Nevada (9 fields) and Utah (2 fields). At Meager Creek, British Columbia an electrical generation project is under development. In general, fluids with temperatures of greater than 150°C are used to produce electricity, and above 30°C are used for direct applications such as space heating, crop drying, aquaculture, etc.

The U. S. Geological Survey has identified about 23,000 MWe of hydrothermal resources capable of electrical production in the U. S. Mexico is actively exploring for additional production in Baja California and the Central Mexico Volcanic Belt. Canadian activity is currently focused on Meager Mountain, British Columbia.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005