The Nevada Sagebrush

The Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy received a $10 million grant in May, $1.2 million of which will be used to create a new course at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Wendy Calvin, director of the center, said the proposed academy, which will be the first of its kind in the country, will offer an eight-week geothermal energy curriculum during the summer of 2011. She said the academy will be open to undergraduates, graduates and businessmen, and will incorporate faculty from UNR and other universities from around the country.

Calvin said she is enthusiastic about spreading geothermal awareness throughout the community.

“We don’t need to get off of fossil fuels tomorrow, but it is time to start looking for other sources of energy,” she said.

Joe Moore, a research professor at the University of Utah, said that other countries offer such training programs, and that the U.S. needs to establish a location that brings the most experienced geothermal researchers together at a single location.

“Geothermal is a here and now renewable and sustainable resource that is currently underutilized,” said Moore, who is scheduled to lecture on resource assessment and exploration at the academy. “The U.S. has been a leader in geothermal technology and it needs to maintain its position. Without trained people, we cannot do this.”

Roland Horne, professor of earth sciences and director of the geothermal program at Stanford University, is scheduled to lecture on reservoir engineering during the program’s sixth week. He said there is expansion in geothermal energy but a shortage of individuals trained in the science.

“Although there are several university programs that teach individual components of the geoscience and technology for geothermal development, there is no program that offers a comprehensive curriculum that includes all or most of them,” Horne said. “The (National Geothermal Academy) will fill that need.”

Moore also said UNR will serve as an ideal location.

“Many geothermal companies have faculty and staff located in Reno and there are several producing geothermal systems…where students can see geothermal plants and geology,” he said.

Based on feedback from her students, Calvin said the academy will be a success.

“Students are starting to realize that small changes can lead to a big impact,” she said. “I feel like we might end up turning people away.”

Michael Richards, a 25-year-old part-time student at UNR, said he might enroll in the summer curriculum.

Richards said there is enough talk about going green, but not enough resources or actions to make a genuine impact. As a longtime environmentalist, Richards said people need to become more educated about things that can improve their lives.

“The concept of renewable resources is a very important thing,” he said. “We don’t realize how much is being used and we don’t think about anything ever running out.”

Deby Gutual can be reached at news@nevadasagebrush.com.

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