America's First Large Geothermal Plant Launches This June

The United States is about to flip the switch on its first large-scale commercial enhanced geothermal plant, a breakthrough that could bring clean, reliable power to communities across the country instead of just a handful of western states.

Fervo Energy's Cape Generating Station in Utah is scheduled to begin operations in June 2026. The facility uses innovative drilling techniques borrowed from the oil and gas industry to create underground hot water reservoirs where none existed before.

Traditional geothermal plants can only operate in rare locations near tectonic plate boundaries or volcanic hotspots. Enhanced geothermal systems change that game entirely by drilling deep wells and fracturing rock to create their own heat sources, making geothermal power possible almost anywhere.

The technology arrives at a crucial moment. America currently generates just 2.7 gigawatts from conventional geothermal sources, representing a tiny fraction of our power grid. Experts estimate enhanced systems could deliver 90 gigawatts of clean electricity by 2050, enough to power roughly 70 million homes.

Fervo has already signed agreements to build 320 megawatts of additional capacity for Southern California Edison. Two more plants at the Utah site are expected to start generating power in January 2027.

The military is backing the technology too. The Department of Defense has partnered with six developers to build enhanced geothermal plants for bases in California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.

Tech companies are jumping in as well. Meta signed a deal with developer SAGE to bring 150 megawatts of geothermal power to data centers east of the Rocky Mountains, marking the first new geothermal development in that region.

The Ripple Effect

Enhanced geothermal delivers something wind and solar cannot: power that flows 24 hours a day, regardless of weather. That reliability makes it perfect for hospitals, data centers, and military bases that need continuous electricity.

The technology solves a puzzle that has frustrated clean energy advocates for decades. While solar panels and wind turbines depend on sunshine and breezes, enhanced geothermal taps into heat that never stops radiating from Earth's core.

Research at facilities like Utah's FORGE laboratory continues improving drilling techniques and reducing costs. Early challenges around earthquakes and expensive well construction are being addressed through better engineering and operational controls.

Communities throughout the Great Basin could see 135 gigawatts of potential development according to U.S. Geological Survey estimates. States beyond traditional geothermal zones are getting attention too, especially those with hot sedimentary rock formations along the Gulf Coast.

The breakthrough matters because it expands where clean energy can work. Rural areas far from coastlines or mountain ridges could host geothermal facilities, creating jobs and tax revenue while cutting carbon emissions.

This summer's launch in Utah marks the beginning of a new chapter in American energy, one where geography stops limiting our ability to generate clean power.