What’s Inside
The Drill Down
October 28, 2026
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Director's Letter
As we move into the final months of the year, I want to start by recognizing the energy, visibility, and teamwork that made our presence at this year’s Geothermal Rising Conference (GRC) such an exceptional success. From the announcement of our new project selections by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Under Secretary Kyle Haustveit to the packed plenaries and constant activity at our booth, the enthusiasm around geothermal was unmistakable.
I’m excited to share that we are ramping up the Geothermal Power Accelerator by designing the technical assistance efforts to help states reduce barriers, streamline project development, and expand geothermal power deployment. This work can help states take major steps toward scaling the technologies showcased at GRC and throughout our portfolio.
This month, I also want to highlight two projects that exemplify our work: our GeoBridge project, which facilitates awareness and encourages connection across sectors via a public, searchable web portal, and our project exploring the use of Cold Underground Thermal Energy Storage to support data centers. These efforts illustrate additional ways geothermal tools and innovations can unlock new opportunities for geothermal energy deployment.
Finally, a reminder that the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office’s (HGEO) recent Request for Information (RFI) closes November 5. Geothermal is one of the three topic areas in the RFI, which solicits feedback to better understand investor interest, barriers, and opportunities related to the development and commercialization of subsurface energy technologies.
Let’s carry this autumn’s momentum forward and keep things “hot” right into the winter. Thank you, as always, for your dedication to geothermal energy.
Warmest thoughts,
Lauren Boyd
Office of Geothermal Director
Trivia Question: Which geophysicist and seismologist first conducted extensive surveys in the Imperial Valley of California?
Office of Geothermal's Latest
Highlights from the 2026 Geothermal Rising Conference
At GRC 2026 in Houston, TX, the conference floor was abuzz from the Office of Geothermal’s updates and Under Secretary Haustveit’s announcement of the Office’s newly selected projects.
RFI to Advance Private Investment in Energy Technologies
HGEO, in collaboration with the Office of Technology Commercialization, announced an RFI seeking stakeholder input on opportunities to better connect private capital and public-private partnership programs with coal, oil and gas, and geothermal energy technologies. Responses are due November 5, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET.
Eight New Projects for Workforce Training
HGEO and DOE’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs selected eight projects for the Partnerships for Academic-Industry Career Training Initiative. The opportunity will enhance the nation’s capacity for a highly skilled energy workforce. Two projects will focus on geothermal.
Cooling Data Centers with UTES
The Reducing Data Center Peak Cooling Demand and Energy Costs with Underground Thermal Energy Storage project, led by the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), aims to address data center cooling-system challenges by incorporating underground thermal energy storage (UTES).
Online Platform Offers Easy Access to Geothermal Info
The Office of Geothermal-funded and NLR-led GeoBridge is a “one-stop” searchable portal offering open-source access to geothermal materials, tools, and resources.
Geothermal Market Report Rakes in Downloads
The Office of Geothermal-funded 2025 U.S. Geothermal Market Report was NLR's most downloaded new publication in fiscal year 2026. Released in late 2025, the report currently has more than 16,000 views.
Geothermal Energy Atlas Updates and Demo Webinar
Funded by the Office of Geothermal and created by NLR, the Geothermal Energy Atlas is a free, interactive map designed to make complex geospatial data discoverable and actionable. Join NLR researchers on December 8, 2026 at 12 p.m. ET for a webinar demonstrating data and tool updates.
Headlines Around DOE
Fellowship to Develop Next-Gen Scientists & Engineers
DOE recently launched its Genesis Mission Graduate Fellowship Pilot. The opportunity will fund an inaugural group of pilot projects led by domestic doctoral-granting institutions, supporting an initial cohort of approximately 100 Ph.D. fellows. Register for the webinar on November 4, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET to learn more.
Looking Ahead
Geothermal in the United States: Commercial Considerations & Growth Opportunities
November 5, 2026, 9 a.m. ET | Webinar
Join American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) with leaders from DOE and SLB for a webinar that will explore how geothermal energy is advancing from research and demonstration toward commercial deployment at scale. Office of Geothermal Director Lauren Boyd will discuss goals and priorities, recent research advances and successes, the impact of FORGE, and the technical focus areas of the Geothermal Center of Excellence.
2026 Geothermal Energy Machinery and Systems (GEMS) Workshop
November 18-19, 2026 | Golden, CO
The Geothermal Energy Machinery and System (GEMS) Workshop provides a collaborative opportunity for industry experts to discuss technology development needs for advanced geothermal surface plants.
Geothermal Solutions Summit
November 30-December 3, 2026 | Golden, CO
The Geothermal Solutions Summit will showcase global geothermal projects, feature a vendor showcase, and connect geothermal industry, academia, government, and community leaders to accelerate geothermal deployment.
SPE Forum: Unlocking the Earth - Future-Forward Strategies for Scalable Geothermal
December 8-11, 2026 | Galveston, TX
The Society of Petroleum Engineers’ (SPE) industry forum will focus on how geothermal energy can rapidly and safely scale to become a major part of the worldwide energy portfolio over the next decade.
In Case You Missed It
$300,000 Prize to Help Map Hidden Geothermal Resources
The Office of Geothermal has launched the Geologic Enhanced Mapping System (GEMS) Prize to help identify hidden geothermal systems by using geophysical data to identify faults and structures that indicate geothermal resources. The competition comprises two rounds, with prizes ranging from $15,000 to $100,000. Both individual and group competitors can participate, and submissions are due on December 3, 2026.
21 Projects Selected to Advance EGS Field Tests and Exploration Drilling
HGEO selected 21 projects under the Next-Generation Geothermal Field Tests and Geothermal Resource Characterization and Confirmation funding opportunity. These projects will help expand affordable and reliable geothermal energy across the United States by validating technical approaches, addressing key barriers, and generating new subsurface data.
Geothermal in the News
- U.S. Congress Announces Formation of Bipartisan Geothermal Caucus | Renewable Energy Magazine
- DOE Awards $99 Million to 21 Geothermal Projects for Field Tests and Exploration Drilling | GCN.com
- U.S. DOE to Fund 21 Geothermal Projects | GeoDrilling International
- Juneau Geothermal Systems Spotlight New Alaska Workforce Training | Juneau Empire
- State Investing $17.3 Million In Geothermal Energy Projects | LA Daily Post
Trivia Answer: John L. “Jack” Savage! His surveying led to the drilling of the first geothermal well in the valley in the 1960s.
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