The Energy & Geoscience Institute announces Dr. Kristie McLin as Director of Research and Science and new Principal Investigator of the Utah FORGE project, succeeding Dr. Joseph Moore.
2025
We Finally Know How to Get the One Renewable Energy Source Loved by Both Parties
The Wall Street Journal by Christopher Mims
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.
They’re using the techniques honed by oil and gas to find near-limitless clean energy beneath our feet
CNN by Laura Paddison, Ella Nilsen, Way Mullery
Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) are using oil and gas drilling tech to tap heat from deep rock, creating a new path to 24/7 clean energy. At the center of this effort is Utah FORGE, the Department of Energy’s field lab in Milford, where cutting-edge methods like horizontal drilling and fracturing are being put to the test.
Diamonds are a Drill’s Best Friend: How PDC Drill Bits are Helping Geothermal Shine
U.S. Department of Energy
At Utah FORGE, Sandia National Laboratories is using data from four wells to study polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) drill bits. The research shows PDC bits improve speed, durability, and reduce geothermal drilling costs.
Digging Deep: How Berkeley Lab Advances Subsurface Research for Energy, Water, and More
Berkeley Lab, Earth Systems by Christina Procopiou
Berkeley Lab is advancing subsurface science to unlock clean energy, including enhanced geothermal systems. At Utah FORGE, researchers are testing breakthrough methods to create engineered geothermal reservoirs that could enable around-the-clock renewable power.
Utah’s energy future
@theU by David Pace
At a recent panel discussion at the Wilkes Center for Climate Science & Policy’s annual summit at the University of Utah, energy experts gathered to discuss the future of alternative energy in Utah.
County’s groundwork helps set the stage for energy breakthrough
The County News by Charlie Ban
Utah FORGE in Beaver County is proving that enhanced geothermal systems can deliver 24/7 clean energy—thanks in large part to strong local support and planning.
The race is on to capture the ‘heat beneath your feet’
The Deseret News by Amy Joi O’Donoghue
Utah FORGE is driving national momentum for geothermal energy, as record land lease sales and new funding highlight growing interest in clean, 24/7 power from enhanced geothermal systems.
Why FORGE Works
IFP by Tom Ough
The Department of Energy’s FORGE project is jump-starting geothermal energy by tackling technical and financial barriers that private investors avoided. Based in Utah, the lab has cut drilling costs and sped up development, enabling startups like Fervo to thrive. Its open-access research model is now seen as a blueprint for how government can unlock clean energy innovation.
Opinion: Utah’s geothermal resources can lead the way to energy independence for Americans
The Deseret News by Steve Handy, Joseph Moore
Geothermal energy is key to America’s energy future, offering 24/7 clean power and national security benefits. Utah FORGE leads the way in advanced geothermal innovation, proving the state’s vital role in this next energy revolution.
Geothermal is the rare renewable energy winning favor in Trump’s America
Ciper News by Cat Clifford
With roots from the oil industry and a clean profile, geothermal is emerging as the one renewable energy the Trump administration actually likes.
New study presents updated geothermal drilling cost curves
ThinkGeoEnergy by Carlo Cariaga
A study presented by Dayo Akindipe and Erik Witter from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at the 50th Stanford Geothermal Workshop held in February 2025 provides an updated drilling cost curve based on recently reported drilling results by Utah FORGE, Fervo Energy, and Geysers Power Company.
Utah’s FORGE: A Research Laboratory For Enhanced Geothermal Systems
Hackaday by Maya Posch
Geothermal energy lies just beneath our feet, but it’s hard to access in most places. At Utah FORGE, researchers are testing new methods to make geothermal power viable in more regions.