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Last Update: 10/26/2026 at 11:33 PM EST
U.S. Geothermal Energy
Coverage from Clean Air Task Force, BGR, and others
Geothermal energy in the United States spans established resources and enhanced systems designed to reach hot rock beyond conventional geothermal fields.
Federal support, including Department of Energy initiatives and funding for field tests and exploratory drilling, helps advance projects for both electricity and direct heat. Cornell’s Earth Source Heat project illustrates campus heating applications, while shared geothermal heat-pump networks address access and upfront-cost challenges in housing. Deployment depends on improving drilling and reservoir performance, managing subsurface uncertainty, and connecting projects to energy users and infrastructure.
Looking Back
242 Day Timeline
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All Articles27 articles
Important
The U.S. Department of Energy announced on August 14 a $10.75 million funding opportunity for university-led next-generation geothermal research in the United States.
9/10/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Sage Geosystems and Utah FORGE are advancing next-generation geothermal technologies in the United States in 2025, including a planned 2027 Nevada plant.
9/7/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
The U.S. House passed two geothermal bills on June 2, 2026, while Sage Geosystems and Fervo Energy advanced projects in Texas and Utah.
9/8/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, tests enhanced geothermal for campus heat while the US Department of Energy advances geothermal deployment goals and funding.
6/15/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Oklahoma, Alabama, North Dakota, and Colorado assess geothermal repurposing of abandoned oil and gas wells to reduce methane leakage and add clean heat and power options.
5/16/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Geothermal ground-source heat pumps transfer heat via buried loops to heat and cool buildings, delivering COPs of 3 to 5 and enabling grid friendly electrification.
1/26/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Clean Air Task Force recommends California fund a geothermal subsurface testbed to unlock 5 to 10 GW of clean firm capacity by 2045 and reduce 2045 electricity supply costs.
5/21/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Oklahoma and other US states consider converting abandoned oil and gas wells into geothermal energy, supported by US Department of Energy Wells of Opportunity grants and state permitting reforms.
5/13/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
California and other U.S. states expanded geothermal procurement and tariff tools from 2021 to 2026 to scale next-generation clean firm electricity.
5/6/2026 • Policy, Politics & Governance • General
The U.S. Department of Energy announced more than $99 million for 21 geothermal testing and exploration projects across the United States, with no announcement date specified.
9/24/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Cornell University researchers are testing enhanced geothermal heating in Ithaca as the U.S. Department of Energy launches a 15-state initiative and funds next-generation geothermal projects in 2025.
6/15/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Clean Air Task Force backs U.S. legislation (S.4406) to expand FORGE and DOE geothermal R&D for supercritical geothermal demonstrations and commercialization.
5/4/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Hexagon Energy and Weyerhaeuser Company agreed to explore up to 3 gigawatts of geothermal power on 145,000 acres of timberlands in Oregon and Washington.
9/11/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Enhanced geothermal is gaining US attention as new drilling methods make deep heat extraction more feasible, targeting about 90 gigawatts by 2050.
6/25/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Australia’s regions including Victoria and Tasmania are identified as candidates for deep superhot-rock geothermal capable of 24/7 electricity if only a small fraction of heat is accessed.
6/7/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
California proposes state-funded exploration-well testbed drilling to derisk next-generation geothermal development and enable private investment and large-scale deployment.
5/20/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Interesting
Catherine Cortez Masto and Lisa Murkowski introduced a bipartisan act to expand DOE superhot rock geothermal research, test beds, and reporting in the United States.
4/28/2026 • Policy, Politics & Governance • General
The U.S. House passed bipartisan geothermal bills on June 2 to streamline permitting and mandate annual DOI geothermal lease sales.
6/8/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
GreenFire Energy’s 90-day closed-loop geothermal test at Socrates in Sonoma County is cited by California regulators as a path to add over 200 MW from idle wells, with permitting and exploration risk limiting deployment.
7/13/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Researchers and investors met in Banff, Alberta on June 5-7 to advance superhot rock geothermal via testbeds, shared data tools, governance, and de-risking finance.
6/19/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Sage Geosystems proposes modular geothermal modules and estimates up to 22 million turbines across the United States, with Texas prototype testing and Inflation Reduction Act support.
6/18/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Clean Energy Alliance signed letters of intent with geothermal developers GreenFire Energy, Ignis H2 Energy, and TLS Geothermics to support 100% renewable goals in California.
6/11/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
European policy and industry focus on next-generation geothermal aims to scale deployment in Central and Eastern Europe, with Romania as a key case.
6/9/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
California evaluates a testbed program for exploration wells to derisk next-generation geothermal and support clean-firm capacity for electricity system goals.
5/25/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Mazama Energy plans supercritical geothermal power at Newberry Volcano in Oregon by injecting high-pressure water into 300 to 400 C rocks.
5/25/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Australia evaluates next-generation superhot rock geothermal after deep-drilling advances enable steady low-emissions electricity potential, while costs and infrastructure barriers remain.
5/19/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced House passage of the Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act to let DOI collect geothermal permitting and inspection fees through 2033.
6/2/2026 • Clean Energy & Emissions • General