Kenya is becoming a leader in geothermal energy. The Olkaria Geothermal Project seeks to add another power plant. This will be called the Olkaria IV. Geothermal energy is a billion dollar industry providing power to various countries in Europe, America, and Southeast Asia. Next to solar, this energy source is the most abundant. The problem is much of the geothermal energy has not been tapped into. The countries that take the opportunity to do so will be in a better economic condition. At some point there will be a rush to get access to geothermal drill sites. Deep inside Earth, there is massive amounts of heat. The heat from the core of the Earth can reach the surface. It must go through the mantle and crust. Due to the shifting of the Earth's plates the heat can escape and be used for power stations. The Great Rift Valley is an area where plates are breaking up. That makes it a perfect spot for geothermal technology development. Kenya still struggles to get electricity to every household. The Olkaria Geothermal Project has the potential to reverse this. However, expansion should not come at the cost of farmers who have gotten displaced by the project. Energy and agriculture are important to Kenya's long term economic health.
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