Energy and Global Climate Change in New England The constant
temperature of the Earth creates underground sources of heat,
hot water and steam which become fuel to produce geothermal
energy. People have used various forms of geothermal energy for
hundreds of years; modern technology accesses these underground
reservoirs, steam deposits and hot air by drilling, and then
using the heat or hot water directly or using it to create
power. Geothermal energy represents an enormous, underused power
source that provides clean, renewable energy in virtually
unlimited supply. Geothermal energy can be broken into three
major categories: Power Generation: Geothermal power plants tap
deep deposits of steam or water to drive turbines that produce
electricity. Electricity derived from these types of geothermal
resources are common in the western United States and Hawaii,
but not in New England. Direct Use: Direct use applications
involve tapping hot water in a geothermal reservoir close to the
surface for applications from s