Dive Brief:

• Three geothermal plants came online in the U.S. in December bringing the total installed geothermal capacity to 3,444 MW, according to the Geothermal Energy Association.
• In an effort to boost geothermal, at least 25 geothermal-related bills were enacted last year in 13 states.
• The laws range from to expanded royalties for geothermal resources.

Dive Insight:

Geothermal resources don't compare to wind or solar in terms of installed capacity. They are also limited by geography. But where they can be built, geothermal offers baseload renewable power, an advantage over intermittent wind and solar. Expect to see more added, especially in the West, in 2014.