Pilgrim's Progress: An Update on Geothermal Potential in Alaska

A resource in central Alaska is showing promise for geothermal development-the renewable energy that draws on Earth's natural heat for electricity and other uses. The myriad benefits of this clean, domestic power source make geothermal exploration an attractive proposition for this state, where off-grid demand means that Alaskans often use expensive, polluting diesel power. Today, progress at an Energy Department investment on Native American lands is generating a lot of excitement for geothermal power, turning up enough heat resource to meet the electricity needs of surrounding communities and industries.

At Pilgrim Hot Springs, 50 miles northeast of Nome, the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) has found a sufficient geothermal resource from exploration drilling to tap geothermal energy for a spectrum of uses, including on-site power generation. In fact, experts consider the resource at Pilgrim to be the biggest identified geothermal resource on the Seward Peninsula. To conduct this exploration work, ACEP partnered with the Energy Department's Geothermal Technologies Office. For the complete story, see the EERE Blog.

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