ASSESSING GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL IN UTAH (USA) AND ITS IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT USING GIS MAPPING

Geothermal energy is one of the cleanest energy forms on earth, and can provide stable base load for electricity demand. While Utah ranks 3^rd in the USA in terms of geothermal electricity production, only trailing California and Nevada, it is still severely underdeveloped due to the complex geological setting and the high cost associated with geothermal energy exploitation. It is very difficult and expensive to locate promising sites using traditional drilling methods. In contrast, geographic Information System (GIS) can provide efficient and powerful tools to identify suitable geothermal energy locations using geospatial data analysis and modeling. The objectives of this study were to 1). Identify the most viable sites for the development of geothermal energy using GIS; 2). Assess environmental and economic impact of geothermal energy exploitation in Utah. In this study, density and distance analyses were used to quantify the best settings for geothermal development and economic benefit. A weighted sum model was produced to identify the most essential factors for successful exploitation in Utah. Seven (7) levels of geothermal energy potential were identified and visualized using GIS spatial analysis. Our results showed five (5) very promising areas for geothermal energy development that had not been previously identified. The maps and data from this project provide insights to advance geothermal energy development in Utah, and will help lawmakers and developers make informed decisions.