We Finally Know How to Get the One Renewable Energy Source Loved by Both Parties
Testing a system for harvesting hot water at the Utah Forge geothermal research site in 2024. (Eric Larson, Flash Point, SLC)
Geothermal energy is finally getting its moment, as new technologies borrowed from the oil and gas industry are making it cheaper and faster to tap into the Earth’s heat. Companies like Fervo Energy are using horizontal drilling and fiber-optic sensors to turn hot rock into clean, 24/7 power—without needing natural hot springs. At Utah FORGE, researchers are testing these innovations to unlock geothermal’s vast potential, with the goal of making it a major player in the U.S. energy mix.