Geothermal Energy in Utah: Massive Potential to Meet Growing Electricity Needs

In 2024, Utah generated over 35 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity with 78% of the state’s electricity mix coming from two fossil fuels: coal (45%) and natural gas (33%; U.S. Energy Information Administration [EIA], 2025a,b). Fossil fuels are useful because they are a readily dispatchable energy source, meaning they can be burned as needed and provide a reliable source of power to meet fluctuating customer demand (U.S. Department of Energy [DOE], 2019). However, generating electricity from fossil fuels contributes to climate change and local air pollution by emitting greenhouse gases— carbon dioxide and methane—as well as other pollutants (Ask MIT Climate, 2023; Spath & Mann, 2000; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2023).

An alternative, renewable energy source that can provide dispatchable energy but has few to no climate-warming and polluting impacts is geothermal energy, heat from within the Earth (U.S. DOE, 2019). The Earth’s internal heat is constantly available, so geothermal power plants can run on demand or continuously. This allows geothermal energy to provide operating characteristics similar to coal and gas with the potential to function as a primary source of dispatchable, baseload electricity (U.S. DOE, 2019).

Areas where geothermal heat is closer to the Earth’s surface are critical for successful geothermal energy production because it is faster and cheaper to drill to shallow depths (Figure 1; Allis et al., 2013; Roberts, 2026). In Utah and the Great Basin, this “near-surface” geothermal energy could provide 135,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity capacity (U.S. Geological Survey [USGS], 2025). In Utah, geothermal energy potential is estimated at over 49,000 MW, but only a fraction of this resource has been developed (USGS, 2008; Szymanski & Hardwick, 2025). As of 2025, geothermal power plants in Utah contributed just 73 MW of electricity capacity, representing 1% of the state’s net electricity generation and 5% of its renewable electricity portfolio (EIA, 2025c; Szymanski & Hardwick, 2025).

If Utah’s geothermal resources were fully developed and run continuously, they could generate about 390 million MWh of electricity each year (U.S. DOE, 2019). This would be equivalent to 11 times Utah’s net electricity generation in 2024 (35.1 million MWh) and nearly 12 times the state’s total electricity consumption in 2023 (33.4 million MWh; EIA, 2025a,d). Utah’s legislature expects the state’s electricity demand to more than triple by 2050 (Utah Senate, 2024). Growing demand for electricity, along with Utah’s rich geothermal resources and history of research and development, make the state well-suited for current and future geothermal energy projects (Akindipe, 2025).

What Is Geothermal Energy?

Geothermal energy is heat from the Earth’s interior. Temperatures are highest in the Earth’s molten core and decrease as heat travels through the mantle and crust, eventually dissipating at the surface (U.S. DOE, 2019). The amount of near-surface heat varies globally and correlates with tectonic activity (Faulds et al., 2012). Utah’s high geothermal potential stems from interactions between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates in the Great Basin, which includes the western half of Utah (Figure 1; Faulds et al., 2012).

Generating Electricity From Geothermal Energy

To convert geothermal energy into electricity, geothermal power plants typically capture heat energy by pumping fluid, usually water, through hot areas near the Earth’s surface. This process creates steam that spins a turbine to generate electricity (U.S. DOE, n.d.). Geothermal power plants require three site features:

1. Heat, the energy source.
2. Fluid to carry the heat energy.
3. Permeable rock that a fluid can travel through.

To be considered geologically and economically suited for a power plant, a heat source must be at least 302 °F (150 °C) and less than 4 miles below ground (U.S. DOE, 2019).

Several types of geologic formations and technologies allow geothermal energy to be readily used for electricity generation (Table 1; Figure 2):

• Hydrothermal resources occur where heat near the surface combines with groundwater in naturally fractured bedrock (U.S. DOE, 2019). These sites can be obvious at the surface if water heated in vertical faults is released through heat vents, geysers, or hot springs. The geysers of Yellowstone National Park in northwestern Wyoming are a famous example of a hydrothermal resource.
• Deep sedimentary basins are regions with near-surface heat below permeable rocks where natural fluid may not exist but can be added by pumping water into the subsurface (Anderson, 2013; Berry et al., 2009).
• Closed-loop systems function like a heat pump by circulating a fluid through a closed loop to bring heat energy from hot sedimentary rock to the surface where it can be used to generate electricity (Ma, 2025; U.S. EIA, 2026).
• Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) are used where there is near-surface heat without permeable rock. At these sites, the bedrock is artificially fractured (“enhanced”), and water is pumped into the newly created pathways to bring heat up to the surface (U.S. DOE, 2019). In Utah, 95% of the estimated geothermal resources require EGS for access (Berry et al., 2009).

Table 2. Current and Planned Geothermal Projects in Utah

Sources: Fervo Energy Company, 2026; Geuss, 2016; Milligan, 2014; Russell, 2025; U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 2024; BLM, 2025; Utah Division of Water Rights, n.d.

Current Geothermal Projects in Utah

Geothermal development on public and private land must adhere to local, state, and federal law and requires permits and permissions from the Utah Division of Water Rights and other agencies that consider environmental impacts (Harding et al., 2026; Open Energy Information, 2026). In Utah, most geothermal resources are located on public land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM; BLM, n.d.).

As of November 2025, Utah is home to three operating hydrothermal power plants with several hydrothermal, closed-loop, and EGS projects in development (Table 2; Utah Division of Water Rights, n.d.). Because the time and cost of exploration, drilling, and construction can be a barrier to new geothermal projects, the U.S. Department of Energy began subsidizing geothermal resource exploration in the 1970s (U.S. DOE, 2010; U.S. DOE, 2019). Utah’s progress in geothermal development results from a long history of support from these programs (Figure 3).

Today, building geothermal power plants is becoming much faster. The full process—from obtaining permits, exploring the site, and drilling preliminary wells––would typically take 7–10 years. However, Fervo Energy plans to begin operating 100 MW of capacity at Cape Station in 2026, only 3 years after receiving initial approval for the project (Akindipe, 2025; Cape Station, 2026). Faster geothermal development is due, in part, to faster drilling times, which reduce costs and encourage financial investment. Between 2021 and 2025, Fervo Energy obtained $973 million in financing, indicating growing confidence in the economic viability of EGS (Akindipe, 2025).

The Future of Geothermal Energy in Utah

Support for developing geothermal energy to generate electricity is growing in Utah. Governor Spencer Cox’s 2026 fiscal budget included $4.2 million for geothermal energy (Office of the Governor, 2024a). This is part of Utah’s Office of Energy Development “Operation Gigawatt” program, which intends to diversify and double Utah’s energy production by 2034 (Office of the Governor, 2024b). Including more geothermal energy and other renewables in Utah’s energy mix would help address top issues of concern for Utahns: 41% are very concerned about poor air quality, 47% of Utahns are very concerned about the changing climate, and 78% support funding research for renewable energy (Hotaling et al., 2025; Schad et al., 2025).

However, industry commitment to using electricity from geothermal energy is still limited. PacifiCorp supplies about 78% of Utah’s electricity but excludes geothermal energy from Utah’s 2025–2045 preferred suppy portfolio because geothermal energy is currently less economically favorable compared to other electricity sources (PacifiCorp, 2025a,b; Utah Geological Survey, 2023). Continued investment in geothermal energy, especially EGS, should increase the potential for including geothermal energy in Utah’s electricity mix.

Acknowledgments

This publication was produced as part of a collaboration between the Climate Adaptation Intern Program (CAIP) at Utah State University and Utah Clean Energy. CAIP was supported by the “Secure Water Future” project, funded by an Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant (#2021-69012-35916) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture, as well as the USGS Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (#G24AC00611). CAIP is also supported by the Utah Climate Workforce Fund, USU Extension, and the USU Extension Water Initiative. We improved this fact sheet based on feedback from CAIP participants.

The authors did not use generative AI in creating this content, and it is solely the work of the authors.

For correspondence, contact Scott Hotaling: scott.hotaling@usu.edu.

References

Akindipe, D., Smith, F. M., Witter, E., Pauling, H., Oh, H., Podgorny, S., Rane, J., Harmon, J., Javed, S., Simpson, J., Shlosboerg, D., Holt, E., Trainor-Guitton, W., Levine, A., Schmidt, B., & Pedersen, A. (2025). 2025 U.S. geothermal market report. National Laboratory of the Rockies. https://www.nlr.gov/geothermal/2025-us-geothermal-market-report

Allis, R., Moore, J. N., Anderson, T., Deo, M., Kirby, S., Roehner, R., & Spencer, T. (2013). Characterizing the power potential of hot stratigraphic reservoirs in the Western U.S. https://geology.utah.gov/docs/geothermal/ngds/supplemental/reports/Stanfordv38_Allis_etal.pdf

Anderson, T. C. (2013). Geothermal potential of deep sedimentary basins in the United States. Energy and Geoscience Institute. https://publications.mygeoenergynow.org/grc/1030573.pdf

Ask MIT Climate. (2023). How much does natural gas contribute to climate change through CO2 emissions when the fuel is burned, and how much through methane leaks? Climate Portal. https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/how-much-does-natural-gas-contribute-climate-change-through-co2-emissions-when-fuel-burned

Berry, J., Hurlbut, D., Simon, R., Moore, J., & Blackett, R. (2009). Utah renewable energy zones task force phase 1 report. Utah Geological Survey. https://ugspub.nr.utah.gov/publications/misc_pubs/MP-09-1.pdf

Cape Station. (2026). About. https://capestation.com/about/

Energy and Geoscience Institute. (2022). EGI at 50 years. University of Utah. https://egi.utah.edu/2022/07/egi-at-50-years/

Faulds, J. E., Hinz, N., Kreemer, C., & Coolbaugh, M. (2012). Regional patterns of geothermal activity in the Great Basin region, Western USA: Correlation with strain rates. GRC Transactions, 36, 897–902. https://publications.mygeoenergynow.org/grc/1030335.pdf

Fervo Energy. (2023). Fervo Energy breaks ground on the world’s largest next‑gen geothermal project. https://fervoenergy.com/fervo-energy-breaks-ground-on-the-worlds-largest-next-gen-geothermal-project/

Fervo Energy Company. (2026). Form S-1 registration statement [Under the Securities Act of 1033]. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1853868/000162828026025821/fervoenergy-sx1.htm

Geuss, M. (2016). In Utah, an old geothermal plant gets a new life with hydroelectric additions. Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/science/2016/12/in-utah-an-old-geothermal-plant-gets-a-new-life-with-hydroelectric-additions/

Harding, J., Becker, K., Mitchell, L., Bodine, J., & Hotaling, S. (2026). Geothermal energy in Utah: A safe technology with limited environmental impacts [Fact sheet]. Utah State University Extension.

Hotaling, S., Becker, K., Narine, L. K., Ulrich-Schad, J., McCann, R., & Howe, P. D. (2025). What do Utahns think about global warming and climate change? [Fact sheet]. Utah State University Extension. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3515&context=extension_curall

Ma, M. (2025). Geothermal startup uses refrigerants, not water, to make energy. Financial Post. https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/geothermal-startup-uses-refrigerants-not-water-to-make-energy

Milligan, M. (2014). GeoSights: Roosevelt Hot Springs geothermal area, Beaver County. Utah Geological Survey. https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/geosights/roosevelt_hot_springs/

Open Energy Information. (2026). Utah geothermal permitting process. https://openei.org/wiki/RAPID/Geothermal/Utah.

Office of the Governor. (2024a). Gov. Cox Announces Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Recommendations, Including Elimination of Social Security Tax [Press release]. https://governor.utah.gov/uncategorized/gov-cox-announces-fiscal-year-2026-budget-recommendations-including-elimination-of-social-security-tax/.

Office of the Governor. (2024b). Gov. Cox unveils ‘Operation Gigawatt’ [Press release]. https://energy.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/Operation-Gigawatt-Press-Release.pdf

PacifiCorp. (2025a). Integrated resource plan (Vol. 1). https://www.pacificorp.com/content/dam/pcorp/documents/en/pacificorp/energy/integrated-resource-plan/2025-irp/2025_IRP_Vol_1_Utah.pdf

PacifiCorp. (2025b). 2025 integrated resource plan (Vol. 2). https://www.pacificorp.com/content/dam/pcorp/documents/en/pacificorp/energy/integrated-resource-plan/2025-irp/2025_IRP_Vol_2.pdf

Roberts, B. J. (2026). Geothermal resources of the United States: Development suitability of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). National Laboratory of the Rockies. https://docs.nlr.gov/docs/gen/fy26/97591.jpg

Russell, J. (2025). BLM approves Newcastle Geothermal Development project in Utah. Bureau of Land Management. https://www.blm.gov/announcement/blm-approves-newcastle-geothermal-development-project-utah

Schad, J., Fisk, S., & Barkat, Z. (2025, May 19). Utah people and environment poll 2024/25 descriptive report (Report No. 16). Community and Natural Resources Institute, Utah State University. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/canri_projects/16/

Spath, P. & Mann, M. (2000). Life cycle assessment of a natural gas combined-cycle power generation system. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. https://docs.nrel.gov/docs/fy00osti/27715.pdf

Szymanski, E., & Hardwick, C. (2025). Resurging interest in Utah’s geothermal energy resources. Utah Geological Survey. https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/resurging-interest-in-utahs-geothermal-energy-resources/

U.S. Bureau of Land Management. (n.d.). BLM Utah interactive web map. https://www.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=e84f92a84afb44b1ad7f65984332b4f2

U.S. Bureau of Land Management. (2024). Pending geothermal projects. https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/geothermal-energy/pending-geothermal-projects

U.S. Bureau of Land Management. (2025). Active geothermal projects on BLM-managed public lands. https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/geothermal-energy/active-geothermal-projects

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). (2010). A history of geothermal energy research and development in the United States: Exploration 1976–2006. https://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/pdfs/geothermal_history_1_exploration.pdf

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). (n.d.). Geothermal electricity generation. https://www.energy.gov/eere/geothermal/electricity-generation 

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). (2018). Department of Energy selects University of Utah site for $140 million geothermal research and development. https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-selects-university-utah-site-140-million-geothermal-research-and

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). (2019). GeoVision: Harnessing the heat beneath our feet. https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2019/06/f63/GeoVision-full-report-opt.pdf

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (2025a). US electricity profile 2024. https://www.eia.gov/electricity/state/

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (2025b). Utah electricity profile 2024, Table 5. https://www.eia.gov/electricity/state/utah/

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (2025c). Utah profile analysis. https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=UT

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (2025d). State energy consumption estimates 1960 through 2023: Table C4. https://www.eia.gov/state/seds/archive/seds2023.pdf

U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (2026). Enhanced geothermal systems could expand geothermal power generation. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=67204

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2023). EPA releases 2022 power plant emissions data. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-2022-power-plant-emissions-data

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). (2008). Assessment of moderate- and high-temperature geothermal resources of the United States. https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2008/3082/pdf/fs2008-3082.pdf

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). (2025). Enhanced geothermal systems electric-resource assessment for the Great Basin, southwestern United States. https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2025/3027/fs20253027.pdf

Utah Division of Water Rights. (n.d.). Geothermal activity in Utah. https://waterrights.utah.gov/geothermal/resources/Utah-Geothermal-Activity.pdf

Utah FORGE. (2024, April 10). April 2024––site activities [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmNjFYxMWHQ

Utah Geological Survey (2023). Customers, revenue, and sales of specific electric utilities in Utah, 2023. https://geology.utah.gov/docs/statistics/electricity5.0/pdf/T5.27.pdf

Utah Senate. (2024). Energy. https://senate.utah.gov/energy/ 

June 2026
Utah State University Extension

Download PDF

Authors

Emily LaBonty¹, Kendall Becker^1,2, Logan Mitchell³, Jennifer Bodine³, Scott Hotaling^1,2

¹ Utah State University (USU) Climate Adaptation Intern Program

² USU Department of Watershed Sciences

³ Utah Clean Energy

Related Research

PreviousNext

Events

View Events Near You

Learn More

Take an Online Course Tips SIGN UP Find an Event