A long-standing battle over 9,500 acres of land in Oklahoma, home to the USDA’s Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center, is heating up as GOP Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) secures a provision in the farm bill to block the land transfer to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes. This provision could influence the future of agricultural research and tribal land claims, making it a critical issue for those in the drilling and agriculture industries.

The Inflation Reduction Act represents a historic investment in the United States' clean energy future. For the drilling industry, it offers numerous opportunities to engage in renewable energy projects, improve infrastructure resilience, and contribute to environmental sustainability.

The USDA Farm Bill shapes agricultural policy, influencing water well, geotechnical, and geothermal drilling sectors through programs that support conservation, rural development, and renewable energy. With the upcoming expiration on September 30, 2024, we must emphasize the importance of timely reauthorization for continued progress.

The expansion of the geothermal heating project in Grünwald, Germany, backed by €62.3 million in federal funding, sets a significant precedent for geothermal drilling and energy projects worldwide, with potential ripple effects in both Germany and the U.S.

Contact Energy’s Tauhara geothermal power plant in New Zealand has commenced operations at 130 MW, with future expansions set to make it the world’s largest single shaft geothermal turbine, signaling significant growth for geothermal energy in the region.

New research at British Columbia's Mount Meager and Mount Cayley is opening doors for significant geothermal drilling opportunities in Canada, driven by advancements in understanding geothermal potential and attracting new investments.