The Secretary shall support a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for enhanced geothermal systems, including the programs described in subsection (b).
The Secretary shall support a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of the technologies and knowledge necessary for enhanced geothermal systems to advance to a state of commercial readiness, including advances in-
(A) reservoir stimulation;
(B) reservoir characterization, monitoring, and modeling;
(C) stress mapping;
(D) tracer development;
(E) three-dimensional tomography; and
(F) understanding seismic effects of reservoir engineering and stimulation.
In collaboration with industry partners, the Secretary shall support a program of research, development, and demonstration of enhanced geothermal systems reservoir stimulation technologies and techniques. A minimum of 4 sites shall be selected in locations that show particular promise for enhanced geothermal systems development. Each site shall-
(i) represent a different class of subsurface geologic environments; and
(ii) take advantage of an existing site where subsurface characterization has been conducted or existing drill holes can be utilized, if possible.
The Desert Peak, Nevada, site, where a Department of Energy and industry cooperative enhanced geothermal systems project is already underway, may be considered for inclusion among the sites selected under subparagraph (A).
(
Section effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of