For decades the United States has been relying heavily on coal, oil, and gas - which are becoming scarce and more costly. In addition, the use of these fossil fuels has produced undesirable environmental effects that have proved difficult and expensive to control. It is very fortunate that the United States has an alternate energy resource available-that of geothermal energy. Although geothermal energy is already contributing to U.S. energy supplies at various locations, its development must be accelerated if it is to assist in any significant fashion in meeting the urgent and mounting energy needs