§17195a Geothermal heat pumps and direct use research and development

Summary

The Secretary must run a research, development, and demonstration program in the Geothermal Technologies Office to learn more about geothermal heat pumps and the direct use of geothermal energy and to make them cheaper, more efficient, and more widely used. Key terms: direct use of geothermal energy — using hot water (directly or through a heat exchanger) for heating, cooling, or industrial processes; geothermal heat pump — a system that heats and cools buildings by moving heat to or from shallow ground or water; economically distressed area — as defined in section 3161(a). The program can study things like better ground loops and heat pump efficiency, building-scale and seasonal energy storage, using alternative fluids, district and industrial heating, low-temperature groundwater use, and linking direct use with geothermal electricity. The Secretary must identify and reduce environmental impacts under section 17193(b). Financial help can go to State, local, and Tribal governments, colleges, nonprofits, national labs, utilities, and companies. Priority may be given to projects for large buildings or neighborhoods in economically distressed places or areas with high geothermal heating potential based on the 2019 report “Geovision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath our Feet” or a follow-up report.