Contemporary techniques for exploration of geothermal resources are outlined, with particular emphasis on the western U.S. as typical of problems encountered in arid and semiarid lands. These include field reconnaissance, infrared aerial reconnaissance, photogeologic mapping, drilling, geochemical analyses of groundwater, application of fluid dynamics to natural steam systems, electrical prospecting, seismic, gravity, and magnetic surveys. Environmental impacts, including noise, odors, subsidence, and legal problems involving developmental regulations, are reviewed. The advantages of cheap power, multiple use including greenhouse agricultural production and dilution of present saline irrigation water sources, power for cooling and heating are discussed. A 102-item computerized bibliography, most with full abstracts, is included, plus author index, and a detailed computerized keyword index constructed from terminology applied to each citation from the Water Resources Scientific Center's Water Resources Thesaurus, 2nd ed. (Author Modified Abstract)