Geothermal uncertainty has gone beyond subsurface dynamics into the deep, dark depths of legislation and policymaking. From lawmakers claiming it isn't affordable for the average homeowner to big bills highlighting anything that appears to be green or equitable in orange, the waters are solids-laden like a 10lb drilling mud.  Combined with the restructuring of executive branch agencies, it is easy to say that the geothermal times are changing.  Yet again.   The most significant benefit of harnessing thermal energy is that it hasn't harmed a single bird or whale, to my knowledge.  All geothermal Big “G” (power generation) and Little “g” (geo-exchange) emerge as the most reliable, environmentally low-impact sources in the 21^st century. 

The state of the geothermal industry is moving quickly toward two distinct opportunities: utility-scale geo-exchange for heating and cooling, and emerging phase 3 geothermal power in the form of localized low-megawatt generation. While they move in different directions, they complete the same circle, achieving exactly what the grid desperately needs: reliable, 24/7 baseload performance.  The best part is that both opportunities are built through the collaboration of engineers and drillers who intimately understand the subsurface.   Once again, drillers are here to save the day, the century, and the planet.

Geothermal – Geo-Exchange – Thermal Energy Resources, or by any other name. 

Let's start with our identity crisis. For anyone not sitting in Brooklyn at the epic NY-GEO event, the terminology is a mess. Other energy-producing entities have standard, punchy identifiers: Natural Gas, Hydroelectric, Nuclear. Yet, from the West Coast to the East Coast, and from stocking caps to cowboy hats, Little "g" is called: Shallow Geothermal, Geo-Exchange, Ground Source Heat Pumps, Heat Storage and Recovery, or Thermal Energy Networks (TENs). I was really hoping Thermal Energy Resources Driving Sustainability, or "TERDS" for short, would have caught on.  It is time that we get on the same page. Ground Source Heat Pumps are great, but they limit the innovation of harnessing other thermal energy resources.   "At HEET's Thermal party this past December, standing on the docks of c Boston Tea Party site, Zeyneb captured the moment perfectly: it's time to put a different kind of 'T'—temperature— to and from the harbor and ignite a Thermal Energy Revolution."

Regardless of the terminology, the Thermal Energy movement is driven by a massive shift in scale.   Single-family homes and big buildings got us here; designing entire interconnected networks will drive us beyond the 21^st century. As industry professionals, the science and the stats are already second nature. We know that tapping into constant subsurface temperatures and utilizing waste heat resources will drastically reduce our grid's electrical demand. We utilize this knowledge to actively push projects from theory into reality, and every successful installation defines our trajectory for 2026 and beyond. However, the math alone won't win the day. Success is no longer about the stats; The true game-changer is our collective passion to promote, educate, and drive national acceptance. The question now is how we channel that internal momentum outward. How do we take the excitement burning within our ranks and ignite decision-makers within communities?   How do we shift from a mindset that gas is the cheapest and most equitable resource?  It is time to shift from energy stats to everyone deserves equitable, sustainable heating and cooling while also creating new employment opportunities to build thermal energy networks.  

The beautiful part of building upon our communities with TENs is the opportunity to create incredible local jobs. However, the average American has no idea that harnessing thermal energy resources can lower their energy bills and create jobs in their community.  They see major mandates, coal plants closing, and Hank Hill no longer being allowed to sell propane and accessories. These optics matter, especially since many have hesitated to view construction as unreliable work since the 2008 housing market crash, when many Americans were laid off.  Nearly 20 years later, the children of those laid-off family members are now adults and are apprehensive about entering the trades.   

To overcome this hesitation, we must reframe the narrative. These aren't just construction jobs; they are the foundation for community-wide resilience. When we train local workers to build Thermal Energy Networks, we are simultaneously democratizing comfort. By combining the constant temperature of the subsurface with rejected heat between diverse buildings, TENs transform temperature control from an individual burden into a shared utility. Our new workforce must understand they are not only providing the infrastructure for affordable heating in the winter, but also, critically, equitable, life-saving air conditioning in the summer. It's a pragmatic solution in which the workers building the system ensure their own communities are equipped to handle extreme temperatures.

Enter "Big: Small G" Geothermal Energy 

Inspiring a new workforce to democratize local thermal energy is only half the battle. As momentum builds for community networks and a new local workforce, we are competing against a new "Big: Small G": Phase 3 geothermal power generation.   Pseudonyms such as Shallow Geothermal, Geothermal Anywhere, and Low-Temperature Geothermal have brought the confusion back.  Today, we are looking at a fundamental tug-of-war over both federal image, funding, and iron in the ground. While Little "g" focuses on local resilience, Big "Small G" or Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) can deploy small megawatt plants with a smaller surface footprint and modular designs anywhere, creating a premium asset in a power-hungry market. With the creation of the Office of Hydrocarbons and Geothermal, our biggest competitor for workforce and funding is now Phase 3 geothermal power generation.

One Big "G"  reen Money 

The July 2025 signing of the One Big Bill into law set clean energy investment into chaos.  Single-family home energy tax credits, along with wind and solar, were eliminated; however, it appeared that all forms of geothermal survived.  As the smoke cleared, opportunities to harness tax credits within geothermal infrastructure, along with energy service offerings, emerged out of the ashes. However, July wasn't the last big shift for geothermal.  In November, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) was eliminated, and geothermal found a new home within the Office of Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy, gaining name recognition. Perhaps "Drill Baby Drill" saved geothermal, as it aligns with drilling for energy dominance.  Geothermal will always share DNA with resource exploration and extraction.   However, unlike the uncertainty of finite resources, geothermal energy is firm, reliable, and renewable, creating a sound investment for long-term returns.  It's time we told our policymakers that the "GREEN" or "RENEWABLE" inserted before "energy and infrastructure" has a double meaning: ecological sustainability and strong financial sustainability.

Securing our Geothermal Future of Geo-Exchange

As an industry moving forward with funded projects, we look to the horizon. The reality is that geothermal power generation shielded geo-exchange while also emerging as a new competitor for both a skilled workforce and vital funding. With the restructuring of federal agencies aligning geothermal energy with hydrocarbons, Big Little “G” power generation could capture the spotlight. That's only if we allow federal funding and perception to control where the spotlight shines.   

However, this is a battle we can win by taking the stage and leaning into our light with local and state support mechanisms. The blueprint for success starts right here at the New York Geothermal conference.  NY-Geo, NYSERDA, and New York State policymakers have blazed the path for many other states to adopt and implement thermal energy resources. In the state of Massachusetts, through collaboration among HEET, Eversource, and a Department of Energy grant, they are implementing the second phase of the Framingham TEN, garnering more momentum and proving that networks are viable.  In Illinois and Colorado, policymakers and advocates are influencing actions to fund, adopt, and build more thermal energy projects.  We are demonstrating to our local citizens the pragmatic beauty of TENs.   Our momentum is built through Communities connecting diverse building loads, allowing us to reject heat exactly when others need it. By empowering capital investment and municipalities rather than waiting on federal mandates, we protect the future of geo-exchange and ensure we continue to democratize the resources right beneath our feet.  As Founder of the Geothermal Drillers Association, my goal is to unite my avocation with my vocation, and that principle guides the civil construction piece of our movement. We are more than just “Drill Baby Drill." For the GDA, our core belief is: "Drill, When it is the Proper Resource to Harness, Drill." We must harness the best available thermal resource to ensure that everyone's comfort—from warmth to cool—and their financial stability are never left behind.