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Additionally, there is potential to tapping into toxic chemicals and contaminating the surface drinking water. (Williamson, 2011)This poses a significant risk to people and animals that depend on the surface ground water for hydration. As with any other good that is produced companies and government officials must always ensure the demand of a product is great before they pull any resources into it. Unfortunately, in the case of geothermal energy, the demand is very high as we look for alternate energy sources. however, the supply is minimal as we have to contend with, “limited access, political conflict, and the cost of harvesting the energy.” (Dale, 2015) Large-scale optimization of geothermal energy is limited by economic challenges as well.Economic challenges seem to be a more prominent issue with using geothermal energy. In 2006 a, “Massachusettes Institute of Technology research panel published a report asserting that given adequate funding 100,000 MW electric geothermal could be developed within 50 years.” This report was very promising, and in 2008 the U.S. Department of Energy Geothermal Program (GTP) was formed and awarded more than $43 million for geothermal exploration and development. (Williamson, 2011) With the mass amount of money poured into the research and development we can have geothermal energy for long-term use.

ReferencesDale, L. (2015). Environmental Policies (second ed.). Bridgepoint Education LLC,.Williamson, J. (2011). The future of U.S geothermal development: Alternative energy or a green pipe dream. Texas Journal of Oil, Gas and Energy Law, 7, 2-26. Retrieved 12 07, 2018, from http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=7&sid=b20d949b-e663-4603-a5e5-f4112288912b%40sessionmgr4008