U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright is putting geothermal energy in the spotlight as a key part of America’s push for energy security and abundance. In his first official move, he’s directing the Department of Energy (DOE) to ramp up research and development in affordable, reliable energy technologies—with geothermal front and center.
During a recent address at Project InnerSpace's Geothermal House DC MAGMA event, Secretary Wright emphasized that next-generation geothermal energy is essential for achieving the nation's energy goals.
He stated, "The U.S. energy strategy must include next-generation geothermal energy if we are to achieve President Trump's goal of energy abundance and security."
Wright's background in the energy sector includes significant investments in geothermal ventures. Notably, Liberty Energy, where he served as CEO, invested in Fervo Energy, a company leveraging advanced techniques to enhance geothermal technology. Many worry that conflict of interest in terms of business investments could come into play.
Wright addressed those issues, saying, “I will sever all of my ties from across the whole energy space, but I won’t sever my passion for seeing those technologies advance to better American lives.”
During his confirmation hearing, Senator John Hickenlooper of Colorado posed this question to Energy Secretary Chris Wright:
"How quickly do you think we can scale geothermal energy?"
Secretary Wright responded by saying: “Fervo Energy is building a 400 megawatt plant in Senator Lee’s State (Utah) and one of the reasons they can do it in that scale is there already is nearby electrical infrastructure. One of the limiters in the growth of geothermal is there aren’t easy ways to connect the power lines to sell that power to users. We’re going to see gigawatts come on in the next few years.”
The Department of Energy is supporting initiatives to harness the Earth's internal heat as a continuous, low-carbon power source. Innovations in drilling technologies are making geothermal energy more accessible and cost-effective, positioning it as a vital component of the nation's clean energy future. However, challenges remain, including high upfront costs, complex permitting processes, and the need for further technological advancements to scale geothermal projects efficiently. Addressing these barriers will be crucial to realizing geothermal’s full potential as a major energy source.
