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| Early 1900s | First geothermal electricity commercialization | Conversion of high-grade hydrothermal resources to electricity began in Italy in the early 1900s. | |
| 1960 | U.S. commercialization | The first commercial-scale development tools were placed at The Geysers in California, a 10-megawatt unit owned by Pacific Gas & Electric. | |
| 1970 | Reinjection of geothermal fluids | Injection of spent geothermal fluids back into the production zone began as a means to dispose of waste water and maintain reservoir life. | |
| 1972 | Deep well drilling | Technology improvements led to deeper reservoir drilling and access to more resources. | |
| 1977 | Hot dry rock demonstrated | In 1977, scientists developed the first hot dry rock reservoir at Fenton Hill, New Mexico. | |
| 1978 | Federal research and development (R&D;) funding exceeds $100 million | U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding for geothermal research and development was $106.2 million (1995 dollars) in fiscal year 1978, marking the first time the funding level surpassed $100 million. It remained above $100 million until fiscal year 1982, when it was reduced to $56.4 million (1995 dollars). Currently, the budget is in the $30 million to $40 million range. | |
| 1978 | Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) enacted |
PURPA mandated the purchase of electricity from qualifying facilities (QFs) meeting certain technical standards regarding energy source and efficiency. PURPA also exempted QFs from both State and Federal regulation under the Federal Power Act and the Public Utility Holding Company Act. | |
| 1980 | First commercial binary system |
The first commercial-scale binary plant in the United States, installed in Southern California's Imperial Valley, began operation in 1980. | |
| 1980s | California Standard Offer Contracts | California's Standard Offer Contract system for PURPA QFs provided renewable electric energy systems a relatively firm and stable market for output, allowing the financing of such capital-intensive technologies as geothermal energy facilities. | |
| 1982 | Hydrothermal generating capacity of 1,000 megawatts |
Geothermal (hydrothermal) electric generating capacity, primarily utility-owned, reached a new high level of 1,000 megawatts. | |
| 1989 | Geopressured power plant demonstrated | In 1989, DOE and the Electric Power Research Institute operated a 1-megawatt demonstration plant in Texas, extracting methane and heat from brine liquids. | |
| 1990 | Drop in Federal funding for geothermal R&D; to $15 million |
DOE funding for geothermal energy research and development declined throughout the 1980s, reaching its low point in fiscal year 1990. | |
| 1991 | Magma drilling project reaches a depth of 7,588 feet |
The world's first magma exploratory well was drilled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains to a depth of 7,588 feet. It did not encounter magma at that depth inside the caldera. | |
| 1994 | Industry consolidates and looks at new markets | California Energy became the world's largest geothermal company through its acquisition of Magma Power. Near-term international markets gained the interest of U.S. geothermal developers. | |
| 1985-95 | Capacity outside The Geysers exceeds 1,000 megawatts |
Since 1985, U.S. geothermal developers have added nearly 1,000 megawatts of geothermal electric generating capacity outside The Geysers. | |
| 1995 | Worldwide geothermal capacity of 6,000 megawatts |
Worldwide geothermal capacity currently totals 6,000 megawAtts in 20 countries. |