White House seeks to cut geothermal research funds

[deadparrot]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The Bush administration wants to eliminate federal support for geothermal power just as many U.S. states are looking to cut greenhouse gas emissions and raise renewable power output.

The move has angered scientists who say there is enough hot water underground to meet all U.S. electricity needs without greenhouse gas emissions.

"The Department of Energy has not requested funds for geothermal research in our fiscal-year 2008 budget," said Christina Kielich, a spokeswoman for the Department of Energy. "Geothermal is a mature technology. Our focus is on breakthrough energy research and development."

The administration of George W. Bush has made renewable energy a priority as it seeks to wean the United States off foreign oil, but it emphasizes use of biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel for vehicles and nuclear research for electricity.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/usa_geothermal_funding_dc

[opihimoimoi]

1. Does anyone trust Bush w re to science??? This is a cruel JOKE

He makes himself the laughing stock of the WORLD

[orwell]

2. Because...

...ethanol is a big cash cow for Jeb Bush and the rest of the Bush Crime Family.

What a surprise...

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. What a stupid shit.

Or maybe he's just an evil, self-serving sonofabitch.

[Lorien]

4. Insane

"but it emphasizes use of biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel.." because that WILL keep us hooked on oil (to produce the stuff).

:grr:

[Stephanie]

8. Insane

So what else is new?

[truthisfreedom]

5. Complete insanity. IMPEACH!

[necso]

6. Federal funding for

engineering research and development should be increased. Geothermal energy has good potential for commercial-scale electric generation ("mining" is an issue).

On a smaller scale, geothermal-exchange heat-pumps are already widely used and are a valuable property asset.

Geothermal energy could use more attention... and dollars.

[pinniped]

7. Off course, this should surprise no one.

Department of Energy has not requested funds for geothermal research in our fiscal-year 2008 budget

I'm surprised these punks waited this long to ax the funds.

I wouldn't expect that asshole* to know what geothermal was anyways. That asshole only knows noooklear, oil, and coal.

POS*:

- The planet is totally flat, like paper. How could it have internal heat?

- Wouldn't we drill right through the bottom of the Earth?

[gratuitous]

14. And you'd put Atlas' eye out!

I mean, the last thing you want is for that guy to shrug.

[krispos42]

9. They need to learn from Reykjavík

99.9% of Iceland's electricity is from either hydro or geothermal power, and 87% of home heating and hot water is done by geothermal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_power_in_Iceland

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[tanyev]

10. I guess nobody in the Bush family is making any money off of geothermal.

What's with Biofuel Bush? The (dirty) secret of the new ethanol craze is that it is, once again, a Bush family business. Brother Jeb is one of the three chairmen of the Miami-based Inter-American Ethanol Commission (set up in December) along with a former agriculture minister in the previous Lula administration, agribusiness tycoon Roberto Rodrigues, and Colombian Luis Alberto Moreno, president of the Inter-American Development Bank.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x401858

[sutz12]

11. Who do you suppose paid for the ....

Who do you suppose paid for the nifty new underground heat pump system (a form of geothermal energy use) he was bragging about in his new house?

[daleo]

12. Geothermal is just too renewable

I mean, how can big corporations monopolize that?

[Robb]

13. The Colorado Geological Survey had a big PR push on geothermal

just last month, I saw several papers that picked up the press release they sent out. I think it even cited DOE numbers on how dang hot the water was in Colorado, and not too deep.

[Alexander]

15. I thought the Bush "ranch" ran off of geothermal energy?

I remember reading that somewhere, back when the press was going ga-ga over how much of a Texan Bush was, with his cowboy boots and ranch. :eyes: