Utah geothermal boom brings clean power and water questions
Geothermal developers are pursuing projects across the Mountain West to provide reliable clean power for data centers, including Google’s agreement to purchase 396 megawatts from Fervo’s Cape Station in southwest Utah. The projects could reduce reliance on fossil fuels but raise concerns about water consumption in drought-stricken regions.
Geothermal companies are expanding across the dry West as data center operators seek reliable, around-the-clock clean electricity. Google has agreed to buy 396 megawatts from Fervo’s Cape Station project near Milford in Beaver County, Utah, while Meta is supporting a 150-megawatt XGS Energy project in New Mexico. Oracle has also proposed developing up to 2 gigawatts of renewable generation in New Mexico, potentially including geothermal power.
The article focuses on the water demands of newer geothermal technologies. Enhanced geothermal systems can lose water underground, while closed-loop systems such as XGS Energy’s use less water but may produce less power and be more expensive. Researchers including Kristie McLin of Utah FORGE and Stanford geothermal expert Roland Horne said water availability, drilling costs, geology and transmission access remain significant challenges, although geothermal could help meet clean-energy goals in California and other Western states.