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Geothermal energy is being touted as a source that may help us get off dependancy on foreign oil

Geothermal energy is being touted as one of the alternative energy sources that may help us get off of our dependency on foreign oil and other fossil fuels. Rather than being used in cars, though, this energy harnessed from the depths of the Earth would be used in electricity generation, reducing the need for coal and oil.

Because geothermal energy comes from the forces that make Earth what it is, it is considered renewable. Fossil fuels like coal and oil, on the other hand, are limited because they are the results of processes that turned plant life from millions of years ago into something we can use for energy. Fossil fuels will eventually run out, and we can't get more of them. The Earth's energy will be around long after fossil fuels are gone.

Geothermal energy is a popular idea also because it doesn't pollute or give off greenhouse gases. (Of course, it is worth noting that drilling is still involved, causing environmental concerns, and other processes involved in extraction may contribute pollution.) In other countries, geothermal development is well underway.

Seatle P.I. reports on the strides that AltaRock hopes it can make, now that it has funding and geothermal rights:

"These geothermal rights will provide us with a pipeline of development projects to showcase our innovative technology, and generate jobs and clean, renewable energy," said AltaRock CEO Don O'Shei in a statement.

There is hope that a demonstration system can be online by the end of next year.

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