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August showcases the natural beauty of the United States, from the late summer harvests of East Coast fruits to the blooming alpine wildflowers of the mountainous West Coast. Just yesterday we celebrated the 110th birthday of the National Park Service! And alongside these wonders, geothermal continues to make its mark—from roaring geysers in nature to reliable and secure domestic power in our homes.
This month, I want to highlight some great collaborative work in our Commercial Scale-Up team. Led by the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), our Geothermal Power Accelerator is connecting state participants to the Office of Geothermal’s Commercial Scale-Up data, modeling, and analysis-ready tools—thus increasing collaboration, encouraging new partnerships, and improving products. This direct stakeholder engagement can help bolster geothermal data consistency across federal and state programs and expand the geothermal community at the state level. The NASEO engagement is also informing the office’s work to improve permitting coordination across federal, state, and local jurisdictions—including work with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorizations and Permits program and the PermitAI team, to explore how interagency coordination and emerging AI tools can help improve geothermal permitting.
Our spotlights on a lithium and critical mineral characterization project and a wellbore tool construction project offer more examples of how partnerships and innovation within Office of Geothermal-funded projects spark creative breakthroughs. Additionally, our Utah Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) has started an extended circulation test. Representing years of federally funded work, the test is a significant feat that only a handful of enhanced geothermal system (EGS) projects worldwide have reached.
As we reflect on the abundance and wonder the end of the summer brings, let’s also celebrate the ingenuity and achievements of geothermal’s “hot” summer. With all that’s happening in geothermal, there will no doubt be more to celebrate just around the corner.
Warmest thoughts,
Sean Porse
Acting Office of Geothermal Director
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Trivia Question: Which U.S. geologic region is noted for its naturally elevated heat flow and significant undiscovered geothermal resources? |
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Office of Geothermal's Latest |
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Utah FORGE Drill Rig. Photo Credit: Utah FORGE, Eric Larson (Flash Point SLC)
Extended Circulation Starts at Utah FORGE
FORGE has started an extended circulation at its field research site near Milford, Utah. The test is expected to last at least four months and allow the team to study previously unknown variables that can ensure long-term EGS production remains commercially viable.
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University Training and Research Funding Opportunity Announced
DOE’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO) announced a $10.75 million funding opportunity that will support early-stage research and development projects at U.S. colleges and universities. The opportunity’s topic area is split into three subtopics focused on coal, oil and gas, and geothermal energy.
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Chalcopyrite, Pentlandite, Pyrrhotite. Photo Credit: USGS
Exploring Lithium and Critical Minerals Potential in Louisiana
Funded by the Office of Geothermal and DOE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office, Idaho National Laboratory’s investigating lithium and critical minerals potential in subsurface brines.
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NLR Study Finds Cold UTES Can Keep Servers Cool
A new Office of Geothermal-funded study led by the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) used advanced computational modeling to analyze how cold underground thermal energy storage (UTES) can help manage cooling loads to save energy and water. The research demonstrated cold UTES deployment at a sample of 12 data centers.
National Lab Helps Community Explore Geothermal Potential
Through DOE’s Energy to Communities (E2C) expert match program, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) collaborated with the state of Washington’s Lewis County Public Utility District (LCPUD) to explore geothermal possibilities. The project resulted in a report detailing geothermal resource potential in Lewis County and has expanded into a larger data analysis technical assistance project beyond E2C.
HGEO Leadership Visits Utah’s Geothermal, Coal, and Critical Minerals Industries
HGEO leadership spent a week in Utah touring enhanced geothermal projects, coal mines, and critical minerals research facilities, meeting with Governor Spencer Cox and state industry leaders, and delivering keynote remarks at the American Coal Council's Coal Innovation & Market Strategies Conference.
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Headlines Around DOE
Applications Open for Community-Support Project
The Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP) is now accepting applications. The project helps coastal, remote, and island communities develop more affordable, reliable, and secure energy systems through strategic energy planning support and deep-dive technical assistance.
DOE Visits University of Dakota Research Center
DOE representatives visited the University of Dakota’s Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) last month. The EERC was recently selected for multiple DOE projects, focusing on energy innovation, technology commercialization, and domestic energy production.
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September 20‒23, 2026 | Houston, TX
The Office of Geothermal will be attending the 2026 GRC in Houston, TX. The conference is the geothermal industry’s flagship annual conference, with presentations, keynote speakers, and a technical program.
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In Case You Missed It
National Lab with Industry Partners Advance EGS Development
In an Office of Geothermal-funded project, PNNL, Fervo Energy, and technology company NVIDIA have partnered to build a digital twin of enhanced geothermal reservoirs. The virtual platform can mimic real-life processes, allowing quick informed decisions to maximize electricity generation within the EGS.
Cross-State Comparisons of Geothermal Power Development Policy
As part of the Geothermal Power Accelerator, NASEO published an Office of Geothermal-funded comparative analysis of geothermal-related policies, regulations, and legislation across seven states to examine how different jurisdictions approach geothermal power development. NASEO also prepared a summary of recent federal legislative measures addressing geothermal permitting, available on the NASEO website.
FORGE: Creating Pathways for Geothermal
The Office of Geothermal’s FORGE has been identifying, testing, and evaluating technologies and methods for EGS since breaking ground in 2019. Learn how FORGE is fostering transparency and enabling geothermal companies and other EGS researchers.
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Trivia Answer: The Western United States! This key area includes sub-regions like the Great Basin and the Salton Sea—places where geothermal potential is now, but hidden resources are still being researched and discovered. And while this region leads the country in geothermal power production, there is untapped potential across the United States. |
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