4 Mountain West States Launch Geothermal Consortium, Targeting 200 Gigawatts and $250 Billion Opportunity
Updated
Updated · KUER 90.1 · May 20
4 Mountain West States Launch Geothermal Consortium, Targeting 200 Gigawatts and $250 Billion Opportunity
9 articles · Updated · KUER 90.1 · May 20
Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona said they will create the Mountain West Geothermal Consortium to speed geothermal development across state lines and streamline underground renewable-energy production.
Michael O’Connor, the consortium’s director, said a Department of Energy assessment shows the region could supply more than 200 gigawatts of baseload power—an estimated $250 billion economic opportunity.
The group, organized by nonprofits Center for Public Enterprise and Constructive, will focus on attracting investors and sharing best practices; governors said the effort could cut bills, create jobs and provide 24/7 power.
Utah enters with existing projects including the DOE-backed Utah FORGE research site in Beaver County and Fervo Energy’s Cape Station near Milford, giving the new alliance a development base.
Spencer Cox tied geothermal expansion to Utah’s push to double energy production by 2034 and to concerns over a proposed Box Elder County data center that could eventually need 9 gigawatts.
Can regional efforts like the Geothermal Consortium overcome federal policy shifts to accelerate America's clean energy goals?
With US green investment declining, how will the nation power the massive energy demands of new AI data centers?
As foreign clean tech booms, is the US sacrificing energy leadership for short-term technological growth?