Next-Generation Geothermal at Scale: A State Action Framework

Recent innovations are unlocking geothermal energy in regions where it was once thought impossible. Next-generation geothermal has the potential to generate vast amounts of clean firm energy across the western U.S., which can support grid resilience, help meet projected growth in energy demand, and enable affordable decarbonization. Attracted by this promise, state policymakers in recent years have made dozens of policy changes across a wide range of topics related to geothermal energy.

However, many of these actions – from funding programs that are too small to make a difference to regulatory updates that do not clarify the most important questions – have not yet translated into wide-scale deployment.

Clean Air Task Force interviewed leading geothermal developers across the West and conducted a comprehensive scan of the regulatory and permitting landscape in 14 western states. That research informed a policy framework organized around five key deployment levers: characterizing subsurface resources through data collection and sharing; establishing clear and predictable regulatory frameworks; financing early exploration and demonstration; building supportive infrastructure, especially transmission; and sustaining research and development.

This report identifies actionable policies for each lever that states can adapt to their context. These affordable, targeted policies can unlock the potential of next-generation geothermal to deliver abundant, affordable clean energy.