Next-generation geothermal energy could become a major clean power source across the western United States, but only if states step in to address the economics. These novel systems, which use advanced underground techniques, offer far more siting flexibility than traditional geothermal plants. Yet their innovative nature makes them expensive and risky compared to more established power sources.
States have a central role in lowering those hurdles. By designing policies that reduce financial risk, support early projects, and encourage investment, they can help developers move from demonstration to deployment. Without such support, the region's geothermal potential is likely to remain largely untapped.
The source focuses on state-level action as the key lever. It does not discuss federal policy or utility-level decisions in depth, but it makes clear that the barrier is not geology—it is economics and the absence of a supportive policy environment.