House Geothermal Bill Would Expand EPA Role On Environmental Impacts

A House panel has approved a bill that would expand EPA's role in assessing the environmental risk posed by geothermal energy production -- including the potential for drinking water contamination -- as part of an initiative to fund expanded research into the renewable energy source. Geothermal energy is produced when water heated by the Earth's hot core is tapped to produce electricity without any greenhouse gases or other emissions, but the energy source could have other environmental impacts. The House...