Geothermal Is at a “Turning Point”
The geothermal industry is in a unique, enviable position for a renewable energy source—but to capitalize on that position, it will need more workers (The Wall Street Journal, subscription).
What’s going on: “Even though geothermal has been exempted from the policy changes in President Trump’s ‘one big beautiful bill’ that are squeezing other renewables, more geologists, engineers and data scientists will be needed to capitalize on the expansion efforts.”
- People with deep knowledge of the geothermal industry—the exploration, development and use of heat from the Earth’s core—are few and far between.
Why now: Geothermal tax credits were not among those eliminated in the recent reconciliation bill, and geothermal energy enjoys bipartisan support in Congress.
- Though it meets less than 1% of global energy demand, geothermal could provide for up to 15% of worldwide electricity demand growth by 2050.
- Geothermal projects are expected to grow in the Southwest, where GOP lawmakers are pushing to speed the pace of permitting for sites on federal lands.
A workforce issue: “Geothermal needs more than geologists—this is an all-hands-on-deck moment,” Marcus Oesterberg, chief operating officer of geothermal exploration firm Ignis H2 Energy told the Journal.
- “It’s stepping into the spotlight as a viable, front-line solution in the global energy transition. And to meet that moment, we need to expand our thinking around talent.”
Who’s needed: Those in high demand now include “geologists, geophysicists and geomechanics specialists whose expertise is essential for exploring and developing new geothermal resources.”
The hurdle: The sector suffers from a lack of awareness among the general population. Geology programs in colleges are smaller than those of other scientific fields.
Why do it: There are fewer than 265,000 geologists working in the U.S. today, but the earning potential is excellent.
- The median salary for geoscientists rose 2% from 2023 to 2024 and is now about $99,000 a year.