While there are enough supporters of geothermal energy across the globe, the American government is yet to make up its mind whether to surge ahead with its generation and implementation or not. This is not to say that the American government does not realize the importance of switching to alternate energy sources, but it seems that they indeed have several reservations against tapping of geothermal energy. The battle continues between the Congress and the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) as the world waits with baited breath for the American stance on this vital issue. 

In fact, GEA's Executive Director Karl Gawell has written to the Congress that a special hearing be allowed on the potential of geothermal research program  and the role of the government that can trigger further development of the project, before they summarily reject the prospect of tapping geothermal energy as an alternate energy resource. This is his official appeal to the DOE and the OMB. Karl Gawell has also pointed out that recent studies conducted by the National Research Council, the Western Governors' Association Clean Energy Task Force and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology univocally support attempts to tap this immense potential and develop it as a viable source for alternate energy.  

There are several members of the American public who like Gawell, believe in the prospect of geothermal energy as a feasible and economical alternative to traditional fuels we use today. But unfortunately, there is also a vast section of Americans, who have least idea about this important subject. It is to be noted that generation of geothermal energy is less expensive in terms of kilowatt-hours than coal which is being constantly mined in the US. Easily accessible, a vast storehouse of geo energy lay dormant only a few kilometers under the earth and we can get it simply by digging into the surface. The good news is that Ormat, the third largest geothermal energy producer in the US, with plants in several nations is already operating a billion dollar industry. This shows that geo energy has the potential and it is up to us to tap it.