In a bold move towards greater reliance on renewable energy, Boise, Idaho has emerged as a champion for geothermal energy. The city's geothermal utility, operated by a team including former ExxonMobil geologist Tina Riley, has become a shining example of how geothermal energy can play a pivotal role in achieving climate neutrality goals.

A recent U.S. Department of Energy report highlighted the vast potential of the geothermal industry, identifying a ready workforce of 300,000 professionals including engineers, hydrologists, drillers, and power plant operators. The challenge lies in attracting more early adopters like Riley, who made the leap from the oil and gas sector to help run Boise's geothermal utility.

Geothermal energy, which harnesses the heat from hot water deep beneath the Earth's surface to generate heat or electricity, is often described as an "invisible technology" due to its underutilization. Expensive compared to conventional drilling methods, geothermal energy has remained an underdog. However, the White House is determined to change this narrative and has unveiled an ambitious plan to increase geothermal development in the United States by twenty-fold, with the support of the established oil and gas industry.

Boise's geothermal system, which has been online since the late 1970s in response to the oil crisis of that time, now serves around a hundred buildings, including the Idaho Capitol - the only state capitol building in the country heated by geothermal energy. The city has successfully reduced 100,000 CO2 equivalents, equivalent to taking 24,000 cars off the streets since 2000.

The system relies on a closed-loop process, pumping warm water from the geothermal aquifer beneath Boise into pipe networks that distribute heat and hot water to buildings. Once utilized, the water is discharged back into the aquifer, making the system renewable and emissions-free. Although the current system is used primarily for heat due to the lower boiling point of the water, geothermal energy can also be harnessed for electricity generation in other areas.

While transitioning workers from the oil and gas sector to geothermal represents a challenge, bipartisan legislation gaining momentum in Congress aims to level the playing field by providing equal permitting and exploration opportunities for geothermal energy on federal land, potentially resulting in cost reduction. Currently, geothermal only accounts for 0.4% of total electricity generation in the U.S., due in part to a lack of representation in state capitols and policy discussions.

To accelerate geothermal development, the White House recently announced $60 million in funding for pilot projects, including one led by Chevron. The Biden administration aims to expedite new drilling in Idaho and five other states by 2030, as part of its broader plan to achieve a carbon-free electricity grid by 2035.

Geothermal energy has gained momentum as a stable renewable energy source, providing a reliable baseload fuel to supplement intermittent wind and solar power. The industry, still in its early stages, faces challenges in terms of efficiency and drilling techniques, requiring further advancements to catch up with the more established oil and gas sector.

Boise's geothermal manager, Tina Riley, is optimistic about the future of geothermal energy. With a growing demand for the city's system, she envisions slow but steady expansion. Encouraged by advancements in technology, Riley hopes to gain a better understanding of the extensive geothermal resource available.

Leaving behind the Texas oil patch, Riley emphasizes the sustainability of geothermal energy, noting that unlike oil and gas, which deplete with use, geothermal aquifers offer a renewable energy source that can benefit generations to come.

As Boise continues to lead the way in geothermal energy utilization, the success of their geothermal system serves as inspiration for other cities aiming to achieve their climate neutrality goals while tapping into the abundant potential of geothermal resources across the country.