The Geothermal Small Business Workbook was written to give geothermal entrepreneurs, small businesses, and developers the tools they need to understand geothermal applications — both direct use and small-scale power generation — and to write a business and financing plan. The Workbook provides background, market, and regulatory data for direct use and small-scale (less than one megawatt) power generation geothermal projects; refer you to several sources of useful information including owners of existing geothermal businesses, trade associations, and other organizations; break down the complicated and sometimes tedious process of writing a business plan into five easy steps; lead you — the geothermal entrepreneur, small company, or project developer — step-by-step through the process needed to structure a business and financing plan for a small geothermal project; and help you develop a financing plan that can be adapted and taken to potential financing sources. Contents of this workbook include: Geothermal Projects – Aquaculture; Greenhouses; Industrial or Agricultural Processes; Resorts and Spas; Space and District Heating; Small-scale Power Generation; Hot Contacts; Regulatory and Environmental Issues; Business & Financing Plan - Business Description: Who and why are you? Product or Service: What do you do? Marketing Plan: Market Cubed - The People: Management & Personnel - Show Me the Money. Outline Of A Business Plan - Financial Proposal; Conclusion; Glossary; References; Appendix: Regulatory Information for the Federal Government and Selected States.
The Geothermal Money Book was written to complement the Geothermal Small Business Workbook. Once a business and financing plan and financial proposal are written, the Geothermal Money Book takes the next step, helping small geothermal businesses locate and obtain financing. The Geothermal Money Book explains the specific criteria potential financing sources use to evaluate a proposal for debt financing; describes the Small Business Administration's (SBA) programs to promote lending to small businesses; lists specific small-business friendly lenders for small geothermal businesses, including those which participate in SBA programs; identifies federal and state incentives which are relevant to direct use and small-scale (less than one megawatt) power generation geothermal projects; and provide an extensive state directory of financing sources and state financial incentives for the 19 states involved in the GeoPowering the West (GPW). GPW is a U.S. Department of Energy-sponsored activity to dramatically increase the use of geothermal energy in the western United States by promoting environmentally compatible heat and power, along with industrial growth and economic development. Contents of this workbook include: Sources of Financing: Small Business-Friendly Commercial Banks; SBA Small Business Financing; Financing Criteria; Federal And State Financial Incentives; Federal Financial Incentives; Tracking Federal Solicitations; State Financial Incentives; Conclusion; Appendix; Glossary.
Geothermal energy technologies use the heat of the earth for direct-use applications, geothermal heat pumps, and electrical power production. Research in all areas of geothermal development is helping to lower costs and expand its use. In the United States, most geothermal resources are concentrated in the West, but geothermal heat pumps can be used nearly anywhere.
Direct use projects have temperatures between those of heat pumps and electric power generation. They use
