WASHINGTON, March 9 (UPI) -- U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced two new funding opportunities totaling $84 million for geothermal research.
The funding will go toward developing enhanced geothermal systems that use heat from the Earth to generate electricity.
"President Obama has laid out an ambitious agenda to put millions of people to work by investing in clean-energy technology like geothermal energy," Chu said. "The administration is committed to funding important research like this to transform the way we use and produce energy and reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil."
Specifically, the funding from the Energy Department will go to component research and development and analysis for enhanced geothermal systems. The department expects to give out between 20 and 30 awards totaling $35 million for these advanced-technology projects.
The Energy Department also expects to fund five to 10 awards totaling $49 million for geothermal demonstration projects.
