Episode 164 – The Driller Newscast
The Cost of Super El Niño: Water, Power, Agriculture, & Lawsuits
With $2,500/MWh power spikes and Nevada facing 70% water cuts, Brock Yordy breaks down the massive economic toll of 2026 El Nino
Job sites across the country are facing relentless, unseasonable heat as a supersized El Niño fuels a permanent shift in our operating climate baseline. In this episode, host Brock Yordy examines the escalating strain on our built environment—from sagging high-voltage transmission lines and thermal plant curtailments to older public school classrooms fighting extreme temperatures.
Episode 164 – The Driller Newscast
Read on for a more detailed recap of our discussion this week.
Brock details why closed-loop geothermal exchange systems represent non-negotiable infrastructure solutions for stabilizing our electric grid and providing equitable cooling. The crisis extends into Western water management as Nevada files a landmark federal lawsuit against the Department of the Interior over severe post-2026 Colorado River cuts.
With 70% of basin water diverted to irrigated agriculture, deep groundwater pumping surging, and evaporative cooling draining municipal supplies, drilling professionals face unprecedented demand to safeguard aquifers and lead the clean energy transition.
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Brock Yordy, Director of Industry Engagement for The Driller, is a third-generation driller and globally recognized subject matter expert who has written for The Driller since 2013. Driven by a passion for industry education and digital media, he anchors The Driller Newscast and hosts weekly podcasts for the trade. His technical authority is backed by decades of extreme fieldwork worldwide for organizations like Halliburton, SUEZ, and the U.S. Government. Dedicated to ensuring clean water for all and advancing equitable geothermal heating and cooling, Brock actively collaborates with states nationwide through The Developed Well Group and the Geothermal Drillers Association to shape policy, safety, and workforce training.
email: brock@thedriller.com | office: (269) 348-5156
