The public service division of Google will be investing in exploring the potential for drilling for geothermal power.  The .org division of Google has the hefty mission to address "climate change, poverty and emerging disease".  On the climate change side, the New York Times reports that Google is investing $10 million in the development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), a technology that would drill miles down into the layers of heated granite that are abundant deep underground everywhere on the planet. 

EGS would circulate water downward to be heated and then bring it up to drive turbines and generate electricity.  Plants are currently harvesting heat from deep hot granite in Australia, Europe and Japan but has not been explored much in the U.S. since the last energy crisis in the 1970's.  It is estimated that the generating capacity by 2050 would be about 100 billion watts, which is about 10 percent of the country's current generating capacity.

We at the Institute (IWF) like Google's attitude - “While the US debates drilling in the ocean for oil, we are focused on drilling for renewable energy - and lots of it - right beneath our feet".  We appreciate that such huge projects such as this and windmills off our coast will be needed but we also want to make sure that more local alternative energy projects, such as the ones we work with NW communities on, are also funded and developed.

Community-sized projects, that exploit local wind or biofuels or solar potential have the added benefits of both building community and providing needed economic stimulus to individuals and small, community-based organizations.