Direct use taps the heat of the water for such needs as space heating of buildings, greenhouses and aquaculture. Direct use projects usually use temperatures between 100-300°F. For electrical generation, the water source needs to be at least 270° F.

The Pacific Northwest has the potential to generate up to 11,000 MW of electricity from geothermal power. The most promising sites are in southeastern Idaho, the basin and range country of southern Oregon, and along the Cascades Mountain range. Eleven specific areas have been identified where about 2,000 MW could most easily be developed – enough to serve over 1.3 million homes.

Montana Green Power has a nice overview of four key issues to consider when exploring direct use geothermal:

• Finding a geothermal resource and establishing ownership
• Piping geothermal fluid to your home or business
• Using the proper heating equipment
• Disposing properly of the spent geothermal fluid

To determine access to geothermal resources, consult the maps at the Idaho National Engineering & Environmental Lab. More detailed site information is available through the Geo-Heat Center's five Western States Geothermal Databases.

They also list the Northwest communities best situated to take advantage of nearby geothermal resources, and can provide technical analyses of feasibility at the outset of a project, equipment and materials selection during the design phase or follow-up troubleshooting for operational systems.

For help with design, equipment and installation, consult the Resources section for lists of industry contacts.