Great Basin Geothermal Could Fuel 10% of U.S. Power

A fresh assessment from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has thrown a spotlight on Nevada’s Great Basin, suggesting the region could support up to 135 gigawatts of baseload power—about 10% of current U.S. electricity demand. Unlike intermittent sources like wind and solar, enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) offer continuous output, making them an increasingly attractive option for utilities focused on reliability and decarbonization.

This potential comes from previously untapped resources spread across six western states—Nevada, California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming. Unlike conventional geothermal systems that rely on naturally occurring underground water circulation, EGS technology engineers the subsurface by creating fractures in hot, impermeable rock formations, allowing water to flow and generate steam-based power.

According to USGS Acting Director Sarah Ryker, the current assessment focuses on what could be developed, not what’s already in production. She emphasized the role of evolving technologies like AI and machine learning in accelerating site discovery and analysis—a crucial step in streamlining energy development pipelines.

Tech Gains vs. Real-World Deployment: What’s Holding EGS Back?

Despite the resource potential, moving from map to market won’t be easy. The assessment underscores a gap between technical capability and commercial readiness. Lead author Erick Burns points to the decades of groundwork laid by federal agencies, state geological surveys, and research institutions—but translating that into viable infrastructure still requires significant engineering innovation.

Enhanced geothermal systems have matured over the past decade, drawing on drilling and subsurface mapping techniques refined in both the geothermal and fossil fuel sectors. Still, the cost and complexity of adapting these methods to varied geological conditions remain a hurdle. For investors, the opportunity is long-term—but so is the timeline to scalable returns.

The broader policy context adds weight. The Energy Act of 2020 pushed for a full reevaluation of geothermal prospects, and the Great Basin study is the first major output from that directive. USGS now turns to other resource basins, like North Dakota’s Williston, to form a national geothermal map that could shift energy investment strategies toward more dependable renewables.

The Great Basin report drops at a time when many industries—especially tech and manufacturing—are scrambling to lock in sustainable, weather-independent power contracts. EGS could fill that niche, offering steady output that sidesteps the intermittency issues of solar and wind, while supporting federal and corporate decarbonization goals.