Is Geothermal Energy Making A Comeback?

Renewed Interest?

Once considered a promising renewable energy source, steep drilling costs hampered geothermal energy development. The energy source, however, is now poised for a breakout and could play a critical role in the Biden administration's plans for a clean energy transition. Interest in the energy source is gaining traction as the Biden administration looks to decarbonize the electric grid, technological innovation lowers geothermal drilling costs, and federal funding helps make expensive geothermal projects more economically viable.

What Is Geothermal Energy?

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, geothermal energy taps into heat within the Earth's subsurface from the decay of naturally occurring radioactive isotypes. After drilling miles below the Earth's crust to access high-temperature water reservoirs, geothermal energy is extracted from the subsurface in the form of naturally occurring hot water and steam and used to generate