Experts gathered at the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) 2025 Annual Conference to tackle pressing challenges facing the geothermal sector, highlighting workforce development, technical barriers, and adoption hurdles as key areas requiring immediate attention.

The panel, moderated by Brock Yordy of the Driller, brought together veterans from various corners of the industry: Terry Proffer, a geologist with Major Geothermal who transitioned from petroleum geology in 1992; Rod Rhoads, project consultant at GDS Associates, Inc. and energy advisor with Ameren Illinois; Stacy Kinnaly, director of the Geothermal Drillers Association; and Dave Bowers, drilling instructor at Local 150. 

Regional Challenges and Standardization 

A key issue highlighted during the discussion was the varying cost of drilling across different regions.  

"Cost per foot is rough ... I can't go to Seattle and drill for the same cost per foot I can in Michigan," noted Dave Bowers, drilling instructor at Local 150, emphasizing the need for flexible pricing models that account for regional differences. 

Proffer shared a revealing anecdote from an ASHRAE conference where only a handful of engineers among fifty raised their hands when asked about conducting site inspections. This highlighted a critical gap between design and implementation that needs addressing through better education and oversight. 

Workforce Development and Training 

The panel emphasized structured training as crucial for industry growth. Bowers detailed Local 150's comprehensive 6,000-hour apprenticeship program, which includes targeted task training, CDL certification, and proficiency in multiple drilling disciplines. "We evaluate them first before they ever go to a contractor," Bowers explained, describing their two-week assessment process. 

Kinnaly highlighted the power of coalition-building, citing the Geothermal Market Capacity Coalition as an example of successful collaboration between industry players, manufacturers, academia, and government agencies. "We're better together," she emphasized, noting that ground source heat pumps currently represent only 1% of market share compared to air source heat pumps at 13%, indicating significant growth potential. 

Electrification and Grid Integration 

Rhoads from Ameren Illinois pointed to the synergy between geothermal and solar installations, emphasizing the importance of efficiency in building systems before implementing renewable energy solutions. "If you're going to go solar, the one thing you want to do is get everything else in your building more efficient," Rhoads advised. 

Proffer addressed common misconceptions about geothermal systems, describing them as "the diesel engine for residential space conditioning," noting their superior efficiency compared to traditional systems. However, he cautioned against over-ambitious electrification goals, citing examples where natural gas solutions might still be more practical for specific applications like large-scale snow melting systems. 

Utility Integration and Community-Wide Solutions 

A significant development highlighted during the panel was the role of utilities in advancing geothermal adoption. Kinnaly pointed to the Framingham Project – a groundbreaking pilot program as a model for the future, where a gas utility received permission to transition to a thermal utility.  

"The fact that the gas utility was allowed to go ahead and transition to a thermal utility just opened up all sorts of doors," she explained, emphasizing how this approach enables whole communities to transition simultaneously, making the technology more accessible. 

Diversity and Industry Growth 

The panel addressed the critical need for greater diversity in the geothermal sector. Local 150's program actively works to match their workforce demographics with the local population, though challenges remain. "We've hired an outreach person... their whole job is to go to minority communities," Bowers explained, noting that while progress has been made with minority representation reaching around 11%, women currently represent a small fraction of the workforce. 

Kinnaly emphasized the importance of creating new pathways into the industry, particularly as traditional recruitment sources change. "Farms might be gone... but if we can define other pathways to enter the industry and enter the drilling profession genuinely, and then find partners via those pathways... that's the way to do it," she noted. 

Regulatory Landscape and State-Level Challenges 

The discussion revealed significant variations in state-level regulations affecting geothermal installations. Proffer highlighted the contrasts between different jurisdictions, from California's complex multi-agency requirements to Wyoming's recent shift from no regulations to what he described as bureaucracy that "would put Washington DC to shame." 

Rob Meyer, co-founder of the GDA, spoke from the audience, emphasizing the importance of balanced regulation. 

"No regulation doesn't mean it’s good. Groundwater protection is important. Training is important," he said, pointing to the new C448 standard as potentially providing a good framework for states to follow, with Texas's recently rewritten regulations offering a promising model when combined with this standard. 

Industry Resources and Training Access 

The panel concluded with a practical discussion of available training resources. While acknowledging current limitations in training availability, speakers pointed to multiple potential resources: 

• OEM staff training programs 
• Local utility programs 
• State geothermal associations 
• The developing curriculum from the Geothermal Drillers Association 
• Industry organizations like NGWA 

The experts emphasized that while training resources exist, there's a need to centralize and make them more accessible. "We are better together," concluded Yordy, highlighting the importance of collaboration in advancing the industry's educational initiatives. 

Looking Ahead 

The experts agreed that funding for meaningful training remains a critical challenge.  

"The biggest impact we can have is to find a way to fund training," Bowers emphasized, suggesting the need for greater industry-wide investment in workforce development. 

With ground source heat pumps showing significant efficiency advantages – up to six to eight times more efficient than air source heat pumps in certain conditions – the panel concluded that the industry's growth potential remains strong, provided these fundamental challenges around workforce development, standardization, and education can be effectively addressed.