Geothermal Energy Resources of Navy/Marine Corps Installations on the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain.

The search for alternative energy sources is of great importance to the U.S. Navy. Preliminary examination of data from the literature, bottom hole temperatures from existing deep wells, and heat flow measurements in wells drilled at selected sites as part of a current research program sponsored by the Department of Energy have demonstrated that low temperature waters 212 F or 100 C may be available at moderate depths in the major sedimentary basins along the Atlantic and east Gulf Coastal Plain. Although the possible geothermal energy resources present here are not sufficient for electrical power generation, they appear adequate for space heating and cooling. The Navy should take a leading role in planning and executing exploratory drilling and resource evaluation programs, especially at the following installations, all of which are major energy users Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach, Virginia Charleston, South Carolina and Pensacola, Milton, and Panama City, Florida. Author