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The president of Iceland, where geothermal satisfies more than half of the nation’s power consumption, on Wednesday encouraged senators who have ambitions for the energy source in the United States.
But after several senators said they were inspired by the pep talk, officials from the Bush administration tossed cold water on their aspirations.

A national goal to achieve 20 percent of energy production from earth-generated steam by 2030 is out of reach, said Alexander Karsner, Energy Department assistant secretary for renewable energy.

“This particular goal may be technically unobtainable within the time frame specified,” Karsner said at a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

The goal is set in a bill that establishes a national geothermal initiative. It directs federal agencies to update a 1978 assessment of geothermal resources, and to adjust planning and leasing toward the goal.
Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is one of 13 co-sponsors of the bill, whose main sponsor is Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.
Karsner said reaching 20 percent would require more than 165,000 megawatts of geothermal plant capacity by 2030, while only 23,000 megawatts of potential resource were identified in the 1978 assessment.

While geothermal already constitutes one of the largest sources of renewable energy, installed capacity only is 2,850 megawatts, added Mark Myers, director of the U.S. Geological Survey.

The remarks from the federal officials seemed a quick buzzkill for senators following a presentation by Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson.

Grimsson said Iceland has harnessed the earth’s heat to meet 54 percent of the power needs in a country of 300,000 people. Eighteen percent comes from hydropower. Fossil fuels still power boats and cars, he said.

“This change has happened in the lifetime of only one generation and thus my country has developed from being one of the poorest countries in Europe into one of the most affluent in the world,” Grimsson said.

The president encouraged U.S. policymakers to push forward on geothermal.

“The United States has the potential to utilize geothermal in a major way,” Grimsson said. “I advise you to take a look at how we in Iceland have turned this into an extremely profitable business.”

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., told Grimsson that Iceland’s experience “gives us hope. You are well on your way toward zero emissions. If you have done it, we can too.”

After Grimsson departed, Tester scolded the Bush administration for not moving aggressively to achieve geothermal development goals.

“This should be a slam dunk,” he told Myers and Karsner. “I am embarrassed that Iceland has moved forward on this so rapidly.

“To overlook the possibilities and say we cannot achieve 20 percent production over the next 23 years is selling this country short.”

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