News

This week, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $99 million in funding for 21 projects to conduct field-scale tests of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) and locate hidden hydrothermal resources, most of which are in the West. 

In Alaska, GeoAlaska LLC is drilling wells near the volcanic island of Mt. Augustine to investigate geothermal resources at different depths and temperatures. 

In California, Davinci EP LLC is drilling two horizontal geothermal wells to better understand a naturally fractured underground reservoir in the Brawley geothermal area. The goal is to determine whether the resource can support commercial-scale geothermal development without artificially stimulating the rock. 

Also in California, GreenFire Energy is drilling a deep well to determine how much geothermal heat exists beneath the Sierra Army Depot. The company will combine new drilling and underground testing with existing geological data to build a clearer picture of the resource and its potential for energy production. 

In Idaho, Fervo Energy will develop an EGS in Elmore County. It will utilize a specialized geophone array to conduct advanced seismic and geochemical analysis to determine if the site is appropriate for full-scale geothermal development. 

In Nevada, AlterG Resources will be testing multiple EGS methods across sites in Pershing and Churchill counties. 

Also in Pershing County, TLS Geothermics will be testing a new EGS process that involves drilling into hot, fractured rock to determine whether it contains a usable geothermal resource. The project will also develop a 3D underground model to better understand where heat, water, and pathways through the rock are located.  

Less than an hour south of Pershing County, in Fallon, Nevada, the University of Utah is creating a high-performance EGS at the Dixie Valley West geothermal field. The goal is to demonstrate that an EGS can perform comparably to the existing geothermal field. 

Additionally, Fervo Energy is drilling into a promising EGS site in Humboldt County, Nevada, to confirm the temperature of the underground reservoir and if it is viable for further development. 

In New Mexico, Zanskar Geothermal and Minerals is designing, drilling, and hydraulically stimulating an injection well at the Lightning Dock Geothermal field in Hidalgo County to support the actively producing hydrothermal reservoir.  

San Ildefonso Services LLC is conducting similar site research near the San Ildefonso Pueblo by drilling an exploratory geothermal well to collect rock samples and underground data that it can use to evaluate the area's potential for geothermal energy. 

XGS Energy is also exploring the commercial viability of geothermal energy in Socorro County, New Mexico, by drilling a deep well to collect detailed information about underground temperatures, rock formations, and geological conditions. The data will be used to improve models of the area and determine whether its geothermal resources could support energy production. 

In Oregon, Quaise Energy is developing new methods to reach geothermal resources that were previously inaccessible due to the high temperatures. To do so, it will drill into the Newberry Volcano outside of Bend, Oregon, which has temperatures that exceed what most current EGS tools can handle. 

In Utah, 400C Energy is deepening an existing geothermal well in Beaver County to investigate whether the Roosevelt Hot Springs geothermal system extends into nearby areas.  

Similarly, Raser Power Systems is drilling an exploratory well near an existing geothermal power plant in the Escalante Desert to see whether more underground heat could be tapped for additional electricity generation. 

The University of Utah is also conducting exploratory drilling into a “large thermal anomaly” at the Cove Fort geothermal field in southwestern Utah to better understand how heat and underground fluids move through the rock.  

Want to drill deeper into how Western leaders are accelerating geothermal development? Listen to WGA's Out West podcast. We interviewed Colorado Governor Jared Polis and other energy and research professionals about EGS. We also spoke with industry experts about the potential for repurposing oil and gas wells for geothermal energy production.  

Improved Fire Response in Wyoming: Wyoming opened a new helicopter base at the Casper-Natrona County International Airport to improve wildfire response times and strengthen coordination with federal partners. At the ceremony, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon announced that the project “has been completed ahead of time and under budget. This is how Wyoming solves problems. Working together. Being more efficient while saving costs.” 

Tesla Semi Truck Factory in Nevada: Tesla has begun delivering its long-awaited electric semi-trucks from its Nevada factory. The long-haul trucks offer up to 500 miles of range. Tesla plans to eventually produce 50,000 semis at the Nevada plant each year. 

Accelerated Housing Development in Arizona: Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs launched the State Affordability Infrastructure Districts program to create tax-exempt bonds to finance housing infrastructure such as roads and water and sewer lines. Governor Hobbs said the new program "will facilitate the development of new communities, lowering housing costs by removing the upfront infrastructure costs that can pose a barrier to new housing.”  

Learn more about how Western Governors plan to expand affordable housing in their states by reading the report from New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's WGA Chair initiative, Building Resilient and Affordable New Developments in the West (BRAND West).  

Grand Teton’s Oldest Tree: A 1,289 year old tree has been found in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park. It is believed to have been growing since 732 A.D. and is currently the oldest whitebark pine tree on record. 

One Million Free Books: Montana First Lady Susan Gianforte announced that one million free books have been mailed by the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Montana, which mails free high-quality and age-appropriate books to Montana children each month. The First Lady hand-delivered the one millionth book to a two-year-old named Jordyn in Butte, Montana. “Mailing one million books to Montana children is a proud moment for our state,” said First Lady Gianforte. “It reflects the dedication and efforts of more than 58 libraries, United Ways, and community-based organizations working together to make sure young children across Montana have access to books.”