DOE Boots Up $171.5M to Scale U.S. Geothermal Testing and Drilling
The U.S. Department of Energy is awarding $171.5 million in a funding opportunity to support next‑generation geothermal field‑scale tests for electricity generation and exploration drilling to validate promising geothermal prospects. The first round will open with two topics focused on enhanced geothermal systems and hydrothermal resource characterization/confirmation. DOE says the effort could unlock large geothermal potential—up to about 300 GW by 2050—and is part of President Trump’s energy agenda; letters of intent are due March 27, 2026, with full applications due April 30, 2026.