AI Finds 40GW of Hidden Geothermal Energy Across the US

Imagine tapping into enough clean energy to power entire cities, hiding just beneath our feet in places we never thought to look.

California startup Zanskar just raised $115 million because their custom AI found more underground geothermal hotspots in North America than anyone has discovered in decades. Instead of digging miles into the Earth and hoping to find heat, their technology pinpoints exactly where to drill, cutting costs in half to just $2 million per well.

The breakthrough solves geothermal energy's biggest problem. For years, this renewable power source only worked in a handful of Western states where heat, rock, and water naturally combined near the surface. Zanskar's AI can now identify over 40 gigawatts of untapped potential across the United States, much closer to the surface than anyone expected.

"We started Zanskar with the belief that AI would have as profound an impact on geothermal cost and scalability as modern drilling technologies have," says CEO Carl Hoiland. Their approach cuts the failure rate in half compared to traditional exploration methods.

The US Air Force already signed on as an early partner, testing the technology at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. Military leaders see geothermal as a way to generate power on site without relying on outside fuel sources or vulnerable electrical grids during potential conflicts with rivals like China.

Spring Lane Capital led the latest funding round, joined by returning investors Obvious Ventures and Lowercarbon Capital. More than a dozen other investment firms participated, betting that Zanskar can deliver gigawatts of clean electricity before 2030.

That timeline beats new coal, gas, and nuclear plants by years. Traditional power plants take a decade or more to construct, while Zanskar plans to expand operations across multiple Western states starting immediately.

The Ripple Effect

This discovery couldn't come at a better time. As energy demand soars from data centers and electric vehicles, utilities are scrambling for clean power sources that work around the clock. Solar and wind only generate electricity when the sun shines or wind blows, but geothermal provides constant baseload power.

The technology also revives hope for communities that depended on coal mining for generations. Geothermal wells can be drilled in regions where fossil fuel infrastructure already exists, potentially creating new jobs in energy production without the air pollution.

Zanskar's tools work for three scenarios: rescuing failing wells, adding new wells at existing geothermal sites, and exploring completely new locations. This flexibility means the company can scale up production quickly while minimizing financial risk.

The Air Force partnership demonstrates how early adoption by major institutions can accelerate broader change. What starts as energy independence for military bases could soon spread to schools, hospitals, and neighborhoods across America.

Clean energy that's been hiding beneath us all along is finally coming to the surface.