Ready to rumble: Signs are that geothermal energy is on verge of becoming a hot renewable

Government and private funding are flowing into what has been a neglected sector

The Sierra Nevada mountains rise above the geothermal springs at Hot Creek, near Mammoth Lakes, Calif. Photo: Joe Parks/flickr.

Sometimes it’s obvious. Like in Iceland, where steam rises out of the ground from geysers and hot springs and powers more than 65% of its electricity needs through geothermal generators.

And sometimes the whereabouts of undergrou…