STATEMENT: Bipartisan US Geothermal Bill Would Help Scale Around-the-Clock Clean Energy Source

WASHINGTON (March 17, 2026) - Today in the United States Senate, Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced the Geothermal Power Opportunity With Expanded Regions Act, also known as the Geo POWER Act.

The Act provides the U.S. Department of Energy innovative financing tools and milestone-based investments to target crucial financial gaps and provide the demonstrations funding needed to deploy innovative next-generation geothermal technologies at scale. The Act also ensures that these investments will support a diversity of projects in new locations - an approach that is in line with expert assessments on the type of portfolios needed to provide commercial liftoff and generate new sources of clean energy that is available 24/7 across the U.S.

Following is a statement from Christina DeConcini, Director of Government Affairs, WRI US:

"This bipartisan bill provides the critical investment support needed to scale the geothermal industry and strengthen our electricity grid. As the country's energy needs rapidly rise, this around-the-clock clean energy source is pivotal to meeting that demand.

"WRI research shows that next-generation geothermal is crucial to achieving a clean energy future and a more affordable, resilient grid in the U.S. Yet geothermal energy has historically received far less federal investment than other energy technologies, despite its many advantages.

"The Geo POWER Act is an important step toward making sure more U.S. communities benefit from this clean, reliable energy source. We urge other members of Congress to support the Act."