Geothermal Energy The word “geothermal” literally means earth plus heat. The earth is a wonderful source of energy and thermal energy is by far the more abundant resource. The thermal energy in the uppermost six miles of the Earth’s crust amounts to 50,000 times the energy of all oil and gas resources in the world. The geothermal resources are the world’s largest energy resource and have been used by people for centuries. In addition, …showed first 75 words of 321 total…

…showed last 75 words of 321 total…miles deep. It is an estimated 7200 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Most types of geothermal resource- hydrothermal, geopressured, hot dry rock, and magma-result from concentration of Earth’s thermal energy within certain discrete regions of the subsurface. Human beings have used geothermal energy in North America for at least 10,000 years. Paleo-Indians used hot springs for cooking, and for refuge and respite. Hot springs were neutral zones where members of warring nations would bathe together in peace.