Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that harnesses the heat from the Earth’s interior to generate electricity. In national and state parks, geothermal energy production is generally not allowed as it can have negative impacts on the natural and cultural resources within the park. The extraction of geothermal energy often involves drilling into the Earth’s crust, which can disturb the surface and potentially damage sensitive ecological systems. Additionally, the infrastructure required for geothermal energy production, such as power plants and transmission lines, can be visually obtrusive and negatively impact the park’s scenery.
However, some National Parks may have geothermal features such as hot springs, geysers, and fumaroles that are protected and preserved for their natural and recreational value. The National Park Service (NPS) has a policy of protecting these features and may have regulations in place to ensure that they are not damaged or disturbed by energy development. State park agencies may have similar regulations in place to protect geothermal features within their parks.
In some cases, geothermal energy production may be allowed in certain areas outside of the parks, but not within park boundaries. It is also possible that some national and state parks may have a geothermal feature that has been developed for visitor experience and education, such as a geyser observation area or a geothermal power plant tour.