At the end of 2024, Mission Geo officially launched.

What is Mission Geo? It’s all about spreading the word on geothermal heating and cooling. This initiative is designed to boost awareness—both for the public and within the industry—about the benefits of geothermal as a clean energy source. 

Partnering with the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA), the program tackles a major challenge: the growing shortage of skilled drillers. At the same time, it highlights how new technology and education are shaping the future of the geothermal industry, making it more accessible than ever.

The Driller had the pleasure of speaking with Eric Torykian, the new executive director of Mission Geo, Ryan Dougherty, the president of Geo Exchange, and key ambassadors of Mission Geo at National Groundwater Week in Las Vegas in December.

“By providing a better understanding of the growth and career development opportunities that geothermal heating and cooling can offer, more drillers will seek out geothermal projects. Building owners and homeowners alike will demand geothermal based on the fact that it is one of the best solutions to reduce heating and cooling costs,” Mission Geo told the Driller.

Mission Geo was born out of a simple but pressing realization—many trade professionals and industry players were missing out on the huge business opportunities that geothermal heating and cooling could offer. Despite its potential as a clean, efficient, and cost-effective energy solution, awareness remained low, and misconceptions persisted, both within the trades and among commercial and residential consumers.

Recognizing this gap, industry leaders came together to create Mission Geo, a dedicated initiative designed to educate, advocate, and expand adoption of ground source heat pump technology. As the organization explains:

“There was also an acknowledgment that there were some misconceptions about geothermal heating and cooling among trade professionals as well as among commercial and consumer audiences.”

“Mission Geo was created as a multi-faceted outreach and advocacy initiative to boost awareness, understanding, and adoption of ground source heat pump technology. Mission Geo’s goals are simple: to drive market and infrastructure development and the widespread adoption of geothermal heating and cooling.”

By tackling misinformation, workforce shortages, and industry growth barriers, Mission Geo aims to make geothermal a mainstream energy solution—one that is better understood, more widely adopted, and positioned for long-term success.

“In the next five years, Mission Geo, through significant marketing outreach efforts, will increase the number of trade professionals that understand that geothermal offers unparalleled opportunities,” Mission Geo told the Driller.