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February 21, 2024
I am honored and thrilled to write to you as the new director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO). Moving into this role after serving as a senior advisor and the enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) program manager is exciting, and I feel lucky to continue alongside my deeply committed colleagues who are working with our growing community to realize the benefits of geothermal for all.
Like an erupting geyser, GTO has gotten off to a hot start this year! We recently announced a $60 million Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investment for three pilot projects to demonstrate EGS, which can provide power to millions of U.S. homes. We also announced a $31 million funding opportunity that will support innovation in the wellbore tool space—which could ultimately lead to more cost-effective geothermal drilling—as well as the development of low-temperature reservoir thermal energy storage (Letters of Intent are due March 1!). Additionally, we announced the winners of the 2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition, and I had the honor of providing the keynote at the Stanford Geothermal Workshop earlier this month.
I would be remiss not to thank our outgoing acting director and operations supervisor, Cullen Henderson, who will now serve as deputy director of DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE) Workforce Management Office. My GTO colleagues and I are thankful for his service and wish him the best in his new endeavor, and we are so happy that he will remain part of the EERE team!
As part of DOE’s continued honoring of Black History Month, I’d like to close by recognizing Marguerite Thomas Williams. Dr. Williams was the first African American person to earn a U.S. geology doctorate. She completed her groundbreaking Ph.D. in 1942 at Catholic University, marking a historic achievement in the field of study. Her pioneering work focused on the impact of human activity on erosional processes in Washington’s own Anacostia Drainage Basin.
Enjoy February’s extra day this year, and I hope to see you all join our March 6 webinar!
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Lauren Boyd
GTO Director
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Trivia Question: Reaching the levels of geothermal electricity deployment in GTO’s 2019 GeoVision analysis could help the United States avoid greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual emissions of how many cars?
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GTO's Latest
Geothermal Collegiate Competition Winners Announced
On February 15, 2024, GTO announced the winners of the 2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition, which gives students experience in the renewable energy industry by solving real-world geothermal solutions and competing for cash prizes. Team GeoTribe from the University of Oklahoma won first place in the Technical Track and Aurora Geothermal Solutions from Columbia University and Princeton University took first in the new Policy Track for their innovative proposals. Both first-place teams will host community events about their projects in the coming months. Congratulations to our winners and all of the teams who participated!
Selections for $60 Million EGS Pilot Demonstrations Funding
On February 13, 2024, DOE announced the selection of three projects that will receive up to $60 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for pilot demonstrations to test the efficacy and scalability of EGS. The pilot projects will use innovative technology and various development techniques to capture the earth’s abundant heat resources. Read more in the Houston Chronicle, featuring Lauren Boyd!
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$31 Million Funding Opportunity for Wellbore Construction and Reservoir Thermal Energy Storage
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Topic Area 1: Funding of up to $23.1 million to support projects addressing downhole cement and casing evaluation tools for use in high-temperature and hostile geothermal wellbores
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Topic Area 2: Funding of up to $7.9 million to support a demonstration project for low-temperature (<130 C) reservoir thermal energy storage technology with applications to industrial processes.
Spring Energy I-Corps Selections Announced
Energy I-Corps (EIC) is a DOE program that delivers intensive workforce development training and funding to our national laboratory researchers to support clean energy technology commercialization. GTO is one of the DOE offices funding 14 teams for the spring program as a part of Cohort 18.
EIC has released a Notice of Intent for its Fiscal Year 2024 lab call coming in or around early March 2024. At that time, the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) expects to award up to $500,000 across Topics 1 and 3, with decisions on Topic 2 funding being made by individual DOE program offices and partner agencies. OTT will post the solicitation to OTT - Exchange and distribute the EIC lab call announcement to the Technology Transfer Offices at each of the eligible DOE national laboratories and DOE plants and sites.
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Headlines Around DOE
Apply Now: Funding for Heat Pump Manufacturing Available
As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, DOE has announced the availability of $63 million to accelerate the growth of domestic manufacturing of residential heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and other heat pump systems and components. This investment from the Inflation Reduction Act uses the Defense Production Act to increase domestic production of key clean energy technologies, including heat pumps. An informational webinar will be held February 21, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. ET – to register, follow the link towards the bottom of the announcement page. Concept papers are required and due on March 15, 2024, with full applications due on April 29, 2024.
 DOE’s Jeff Marootian joins the groundbreaking ceremony for Controlled Thermal Resources' (CTR) “Hell’s Kitchen” development by the Salton Sea. Photo Credit: CTR
DOE Attends Groundbreaking at Domestic Geothermal and Lithium Production Site
 U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm with President of the Las Vegas Raiders Sandra Douglass Morgan, President and CEO of NV Energy Doug Cannon, and Chief Engineer of Allegiant Stadium Joseph Wright in Las Vegas on February 1, 2024.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm Touts Renewable Energy in Nevada
Secretary Granholm traveled to Nevada to tour Allegiant Stadium, the first National Football League stadium to be powered by 100% renewable energy (and home to Super Bowl LVIII!). The state is home to around a quarter of our nation’s geothermal energy capacity, providing 9% of its total electricity.
DOE Federal Facilities Program Includes Geothermal Projects
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Grand Junction Field Support Center (Grand Junction, Colorado)―Plans include geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) as well as other measures such as building automation systems.
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Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (Princeton, New Jersey)―Planned measures include a geothermal system that could meet 100% of the building's annual and peak heating and cooling loads.
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Denver Federal Center (Lakewood, Colorado)―Plans include a geothermal system to replace existing natural gas fired boilers.
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Looking Ahead
Accelerating Heat Pump Manufacturing Round 2 Informational Webinar | TODAY, February 21, 2:00 p.m. ET
Register for an informational webinar (find the link at the bottom of this announcement page) with the DOE Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains to help inform your concept papers and full submissions for the second round of the Accelerating Heat Pump Manufacturing opportunity.
Groundwater Protection Council’s (GWPC) 2024 Underground Injection Control (UIC) Conference | February 26–28, Oklahoma City, OK
Learn more about issues related to underground injection control (UIC) at the GWPC UIC Conference. GTO’s Sean Porse will deliver a keynote during the day two opening session, highlighting GTO’s research and the differences between geothermal and oil and gas wells.
How Minority Serving Institutions Can Do Business with the Government Webinar | February 29, 2:00 p.m. ET
Register to join DOE for a webinar on how Minority Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities can do business with DOE and the federal government at large. All levels of experience with financial awards and contracts are welcome.
GTO Quarterly Webinar | March 6, 1:30 p.m. ET
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A Look Back at Our ‘Hot Moments’
Video: Dig Deeper Webinar / GHP Impact Analysis
Check out the recording of GTO’s Jeff Winick and Sean Porse discussing the GHP Impact Analysis in a webinar for the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association.
Video: The Future of Enhanced Geothermal Systems in the United States Webinar
Late last year, GTO Director Lauren Boyd presented a webinar on the future of EGS for 350 Chicago and 350 Colorado.
Geothermal Rising’s Call for GRC Abstracts and Ideas Closes Soon!
New Analysis Highlights GHPs as Key Opportunity in Switch to Clean Energy
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Hot off the Press:
¡Geothermal Heat Pump Resources en Español!
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Trivia Answer: Reaching the 60 gigawatts (GW) of geothermal electricity-generating potential calculated in the GeoVision analysis could help the United States avoid greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual emissions of 6 million cars. In 2023, GTO’s Enhanced Geothermal Shot™ analysis amped up its estimates for geothermal deployment to 90 GW—meaning the potential for even greater emissions reductions!
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