Frustrated industry participants who have yet to see a single megawatt of geothermal energy brought on line in Canada claim that bureaucratic barriers are stunting growth and preventing them from tapping an energy resource with huge potential.

"CanGEA believes that the main reason there aren't any projects is that policy doesn't exist — or if there is policy, it's not effective," says Alison Thompson, founder and chairwoman of the industry association.

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