The House passed a bill Monday to expand research into a largely untapped energy source amid growing demand for power driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence.
Sponsored by Republican North Carolina Rep. Pat Harrigan and Democratic Oregon Rep. Andrea Salinas, the bipartisan Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act passed the House by voice vote Monday. The bill aims to expand federal research into advanced geothermal technology as lawmakers seek reliable, around-the-clock power sources to meet soaring electricity demand from artificial intelligence, data centers and domestic manufacturing.
Harrigan is “proud” to champion next-generation geothermal research as a way to strengthen America’s long-term energy supply, the congressman told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“I’m proud to see the House come together to pass this bipartisan legislation because America is going to need a lot more reliable power in the years ahead,” Harrigan said. “As AI expands, manufacturing comes home, and electricity demand continues to climb, we have to be investing in technologies that can deliver affordable, around-the-clock energy.”
“My bipartisan Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act just PASSED the House,” the North Carolina Republican wrote in a late Monday X post. “Now let’s unlock one of America’s greatest untapped energy advantages and build the reliable power we’ll need to lead the next generation of innovation.”
Next-generation geothermal has significant potential to move the technology from the research phase to real-world deployment, Harrigan told the DCNF.
“That’s good for our energy security, good for our economy, and good for American families,” said Harrigan concluded.
Salinas did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
“The problem is not that our country lacks the resources, but we lack the technology to fully unlock it,” Harrigan said in a speech on the House floor. “This bill helps close that gap.”
“When Americans think about energy, they usually think about things that we can see: Oil fields, natural gas pipelines, nuclear power plants, wind farms,” the congressman continued in his floor speech. “But one of the greatest energy opportunities in our country isn’t above ground, it’s beneath our feet.”
“America has an extraordinary opportunity to unlock a new source of reliable, around-the-clock power,” Harrigan continued. “A single supercritical geothermal well has the potential to produce more than seven times the energy of a conventional geothermal well. And experts estimate next-generation geothermal could ultimately provide up to ninety gigawatts of electricity right here at home.”
Harrigan cited how AI is transforming our economy, demanding more electricity which he said is “no longer a luxury” for America.
“More reliable American energy means lower costs for hardworking families, a stronger electric grid, and less dependence on foreign adversaries,” Harrigan concluded.
Back in 2015, a study highlighted how powerful the heat beneath the Earth’s surface can be. It found “surprisingly high” geothermal heat flowing beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet and potentially contributing to melting at its base.
That same naturally occurring heat can also be harnessed as an energy resource. Geothermal energy taps into heat from beneath the Earth’s surface by accessing underground reservoirs of hot water and steam through drilled wells. That heat can then be used to generate electricity, heat and cool buildings, and support various industrial processes, according to the Department of Energy.
(DCNF)