Power demand is increasing for the first time in decades and there is no sign of slowing down. Whether it’s AI, a growing economy, or traditional industrial power users, American families and businesses need more power. The problem is that through regulation, policy mandates, and subsidies, policy makers have made expanding our electricity grid in any meaningful way almost impossible. Now the nation is in a bind: we need energy but don’t have enough of it.
That’s why we need an all hands on deck policy to provide the energy needed to power the future. One source that could help provide that energy is geothermal. This week on The Power Hour, host Jack Spencer was joined by Tim Lines, CEO of Geothermal Wells, LLC and an expert on geothermal energy. They discussed the opportunities and challenges around this energy source.
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Geothermal energy involves extracting heat from the earth and using it to power and heat our homes and businesses. Water is pumped deep underground where it reaches temperatures of around 500 degrees Fahrenheit. It then rises to the surface where the heat is exchanged into another circuit that drives a steam turbine and generates electricity. The specific form of geothermal energy discussed by Spencer and Lines involves pumping water at high pressures into bedrock until it reaches wells that transport it up to the surface.
Geothermal extraction can continue for a significant amount of time. Once the heat at a certain depth has dissipated, companies simply drill deeper. Greater depths mean higher temperatures and more energy.
As Spencer and Lines discuss, modern geothermal energy is not only reliable and clean, but adaptable. In fact, in addition to building facilities that feed the grid, the technology can also be adapted by individual industrial users that need their own, dedicated energy sources. This not only ensures that America’s energy heavy businesses have the power they need to compete, but it also relieves strain on the broader electricity grid.
Geothermal could also be a good choice in regions that lack existing energy infrastructure.
For example, granite rock rarely contains hydrocarbons but is excellent for generating geothermal energy. This could be ideal for energy-hungry facilities like data centers built in New England or the Rocky Mountains.
Despite all this promise, policy and regulation are once again emerging as unnecessary obstacles. Check out the latest Power Hour episode, Not Your Grandfather’s Geothermal Energy With Tim Lines to learn more about modern geothermal energy, the challenges facing the industry, and what can be done about it.
