What are the environmental benefits of geothermal energy?

Geothermal power plants do not burn fuel to generate electricity, but they may release small amounts of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. Geothermal power plants emit 97% less acid rain-causing sulfur compounds and about 99% less carbon dioxide than fossil fuel power plants of similar size.

What are the economic benefits of geothermal energy?

“Geothermal plants provide long-term, stable, well-paying jobs, produce nearly zero air emissions and associated health impacts, and supply millions of dollars to local, state, and federal economies through decades of reliable, renewable, consistent energy production,” reports Alyssa Kagel, author of A Handbook on the …

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using geothermal energy?

Geothermal Energy Advantages And Disadvantages. Geothermal energy’s main advantages are that it is generated cleanly and renewably. That is, electricity produced by geothermal plants produces no carbon emissions or air pollution like burning coal, gas, and oil do.

What are the negative effects of geothermal energy?

Unfortunately, geothermal power plants may have an unintended and potentially dangerous side effect: earthquakes. Whenever you drill miles into the Earth and remove material, whether it’s steam, water or hot rock, you release pressure that causes the ground above the geothermal pocket to shift and subside.

Why is geothermal energy a good source of alternative energy?

Geothermal energy is considered to be a renewable resource since energy can be extracted without burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas or oil, resulting in less harmful emissions.

Is geothermal a reliable energy source?

Geothermal energy is a very reliable source of power. One of the biggest advantages of geothermal energy is that geothermal power is a very predictable and reliable source of energy, especially in comparison to other renewable energy resources like wind energy and solar energy.