The Office of Geothermal brought bold vision, policy insights, and game-changing geothermal announcements to Houston, Texas.
Geothermal Technologies Office
October 21, 2026
Estimated Read Time min
From inspiring speeches and exciting announcements to a busy exhibitor booth, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) presence at this year’s Geothermal Rising Conference (GRC) in Houston, Texas, underscored the momentum of geothermal energy.
The event kicked off with a major highlight: the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office’s (HGEO) Office of Geothermal Director Lauren Boyd’s keynote in the Monday opening plenary session, “Big Vision, Big Energy, Big Geothermal Future.” Speaking to a packed auditorium of researchers, developers, policymakers, academics, and industry leaders, Lauren sparked things up with an energizing message about HGEO’s expanding role in supporting the discovery and development of gigawatt-scale geothermal energy.
Her remarks centered on DOE’s role in geothermal energy and how it has evolved from primarily funding research to accelerating industry growth, supporting first-of-its-kind commercial-scale projects, and convening stakeholders from across private industry, academia, government, and more. She spoke on the Office of Geothermal’s goals to compress the industry’s learning curve through research and development programs, exploration and pilot project support, and coordinating efforts that allow government to adapt as quickly as the technology, positioning itself as parallel to industry.
Later that day, Under Secretary of Energy Kyle Haustveit spoke during a fireside chat focused on federal policy. During the plenary he announced 21 projects selected by the Office of Geothermal to conduct field-scale tests of next-generation geothermal technologies and exploration drilling to characterize and potentially confirm promising geothermal resources. These projects mark an important step toward unlocking America's vast domestic geothermal resources, advancing next-generation technologies that can lower energy costs, and expanding access to reliable, affordable power. The energy was palpable as conference attendees buzzed about the selected projects and what they signal for the next chapter of geothermal deployment.
Adding to the excitement of the plenaries and technical sessions was the exhibit hall, the epicenter of the conference offering a place to connect, discuss, and learn. The Office of Geothermal’s exhibitor booth was a must-visit stop on the exhibit hall floor, drawing interest from across the geothermal community. The exhibit hall presence of many new geothermal programs and exploration partnerships was especially noteworthy, with companies showcasing innovations that support geothermal expansion—from advanced drill bits and high-temperature materials to improved circulation technologies.
Overall, GRC 2026 made clear that geothermal energy is heating up. With dynamic leadership, bold program investments, and rapidly growing momentum, the Office of Geothermal helped demonstrate that geothermal is ready to scale—and we can’t wait to see what’s next.