Costs and Environmental Impact
Economical Cost
Like all other renewable energy sources, geothermal power plants have a cost for its construction(Well, duh!). It is pretty low in comparison to solar energy-$2500 per installed kilowatt( kilowatt is 1,000 watts.)Also, a natural gas power plant and a geothermal power plant can be economically comparable on cost because the construction of a geothermal facility is more expensive than natural gas's, but since the natural gas power plant needs to keep burning fuel(Remember that geothermal power plants do not need to burn anything!), in the long run, the cost of a geothermal power plant is less expensive than a natural gas power plant. This is also a reason why renewable resources are better, economically.
Environmental Impact
A positive impact of geothermal energy is that there is a relatively small amount of emissions released from the geothermal plant, so it does not penetrate and cause further damage to the ozone layer in our atmosphere. There are some negative environmental impacts of geothermal, too. A common emission of a geothermal plant is hydrogen sulfide. When it is released into the air, it turns into sulfur dioxide, which can harm humans, cause acid rain, damage crops, and wreck nature. However, the sulfur dioxide emissions from the geothermal plant are incredibly much lower than sulfur dioxide from a regular coal power plant, so it does not do much damage. Animals and their homes, luckily are not affected by the building of a geothermal power plant.
Like all other renewable energy sources, geothermal power plants have a cost for its construction(Well, duh!). It is pretty low in comparison to solar energy-$2500 per installed kilowatt( kilowatt is 1,000 watts.)Also, a natural gas power plant and a geothermal power plant can be economically comparable on cost because the construction of a geothermal facility is more expensive than natural gas's, but since the natural gas power plant needs to keep burning fuel(Remember that geothermal power plants do not need to burn anything!), in the long run, the cost of a geothermal power plant is less expensive than a natural gas power plant. This is also a reason why renewable resources are better, economically.
Environmental Impact
A positive impact of geothermal energy is that there is a relatively small amount of emissions released from the geothermal plant, so it does not penetrate and cause further damage to the ozone layer in our atmosphere. There are some negative environmental impacts of geothermal, too. A common emission of a geothermal plant is hydrogen sulfide. When it is released into the air, it turns into sulfur dioxide, which can harm humans, cause acid rain, damage crops, and wreck nature. However, the sulfur dioxide emissions from the geothermal plant are incredibly much lower than sulfur dioxide from a regular coal power plant, so it does not do much damage. Animals and their homes, luckily are not affected by the building of a geothermal power plant.