A bipartisan permitting reform package remains elusive on Capitol Hill, but one underground energy source could help the effort pick up steam: geothermal energy.
Geothermal, once a relatively niche technology, is drawing attention from Republicans who favor baseload energy and Democrats focused on clean, cost-effective power.
Geothermal’s rising popularity among lawmakers has a lot to do with the game-changing technological advancements the energy source has experienced in recent years.
Traditionally, geothermal was limited to states with recent volcanic activity or naturally hot, permeable rocks near the surface, confining it mainly to the western U.S.
A new breakthrough, called Enhanced Geothermal Systems, could change that. The technology allows developers to drill deeper underground to access hot rock closer to the Earth’s core.