WASHINGTON (December 18, 2025) – The National Association of State Energy Officials
(NASEO) today announced the launch of the NASEO Geothermal Power Accelerator, a new
collaboration among 13 states to rapidly expand geothermal power development in partnership
with the private sector.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Geothermal Technologies Office and NASEO, the
Accelerator is led by State Energy Offices from Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho,
Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, and West
Virginia. Participating states will work to establish statewide geothermal power goals and to
advance policies and programs that reduce project costs, address regulatory barriers, and speed the deployment of reliable, firm, flexible power to the grid.
“Idaho has long been dedicated to developing our state’s rich geothermal resources, recognizing their value for reliable, homegrown energy. Our continued focus on geothermal power strengthens communities, supports economic growth, and keeps our grid resilient. Our
engagement with the Geothermal Power Accelerator helps further that momentum,” Governor
Brad Little said.
“Colorado is proud to be leading the way in advancing geothermal energy, utilizing the heat
beneath our feet to power our communities. Clean energy is the future, and by streamlining
processes and breaking through the bureaucracy we are delivering more cost saving energy to
Coloradans and saving people money on energy bills,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
Through the Accelerator, states will collaborate with federal agencies and geothermal developers to identify practical solutions for catalyzing geothermal investment and deployment.
The initiative will begin with a series of strategy sessions and “state of the industry and policy”
discussions with federal leaders and private-sector experts to inform specific state actions in 2026.
Cross-government coordination, strategic partnerships, and consistent information
exchange will be central to enabling market growth across multiple regions.
“Arizona is committed to delivering more affordable and reliable energy and economic
opportunity, which includes leveraging our state’s geothermal resources,” said Arizona
Governor Katie Hobbs. “Arizona is at a critical moment in our energy story. Our participation
in the Geothermal Power Accelerator will foster cross-state collaboration, bolstering our ability
to scale geothermal energy across Arizona.”
“As we confront the climate crisis and growing demand on our grid, geothermal offers firm,
clean power available around the clock,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “In California’s
Lithium Valley, geothermal has the opportunity to deliver clean energy and extract lithium from
one of the largest deposits in the world—fast-tracking the world’s clean energy future. California is proud to co-lead this multistate effort to strengthen America’s energy independence.”
“Utah is excited to be part of this effort,” said Emy Lesofski, Director of the Utah Office of
Energy Development. “Interstate collaboration through the Geothermal Power Accelerator will
break down silos, foster best practices and ensure states have the infrastructure necessary to
support geothermal development. Utah is bringing creative solutions to the deployment and
commercialization of geothermal power. We’re home to FORGE and Fervo, a public-private
partnership that is leading the nation in research and commercial development; we’re ready to
work with our partners in developing strong pathways for deployment and commercialization.”
“Nevada is proud to be one of 13 states in NASEO’s Geothermal Power Accelerator. Our state
sits at the center of America’s geothermal opportunity, and this collaboration will help turn that
potential into reliable, sustainable, clean power for Nevadans and the broader Western grid,” said Dwayne McClinton, Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy Director.
“The Oregon energy strategy identifies geothermal as one of the most promising resources for
Oregon’s clean energy future and we’re pleased to be participating in this accelerator with
NASEO,” said Janine Benner, Oregon Department of Energy Director.
“New Mexico has immense potential across traditional, EGS, AGS, and Ultra hot geothermal
development,” commented Energy Conservation and Management Director Rebecca “Puck”
Stair. “We are excited to pioneer work in the space and work hand in hand with private and
federal partners to make Geothermal energy a staple of our energy portfolio.”
“Montana has a long history of responsibly developing energy resources while protecting our
environment. Participating in NASEO’s Geothermal Power Accelerator furthers our mission at
Montana DEQ, to champion a healthy environment for a thriving Montana, and advances
Governor Gianforte’s all-of-the-above energy strategy for Montana. We look forward to this
collaboration and expect the work will help diversify Montana’s energy portfolio and encourage
investment in affordable, reliable energy for Montana families and businesses,” said Sonja
Nowakowski, Montana Department of Environmental Quality Director.
“As a national leader in energy production, Pennsylvania is always looking for innovative
solutions to meet future electricity demands, lower utility costs for consumers, increase clean
energy jobs, and produce a more resilient grid,” said Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection Secretary Jessica Shirley. “Geothermal systems, while
complementing wind and solar power, can become the next vital resource to further diversify our energy resources and meet our energy needs.”
“Colorado is a national leader in its efforts to deploy geothermal energy for both electricity
generation and space heating and cooling. This partnership with other states will help advance
key technologies that we are already exploring here in Colorado to decarbonize our buildings and power grid. We look forward to being part of this collaborative work to make geothermal a
feasible and affordable solution across the country,” said Will Toor, Colorado Energy Office
Director.
“Idaho is proud to join NASEO’s Geothermal Power Accelerator, strengthening our commitment
to developing homegrown geothermal resources that support reliable energy, economic growth,
and long-term resilience for our communities,” said Cally Younger, Idaho Governor’s Office
of Energy and Mineral Resources Administrator.
“Geothermal energy has the potential to have a transformative effect on Hawaiʻi’s economy, as a source of firm power leading to greater energy self-sufficiency. We look forward to a broad
multi-state collaboration with NASEO on the Geothermal Power Accelerator as we determine the
role of geothermal in a phased transition to progressively cleaner fuels and generation options for Hawaiʻi,” said Mark B. Glick, Chief Energy Officer, State of Hawaiʻi.
“With advancements in geothermal technologies, states across the country will soon have access to new supplies of reliable, affordable, clean electricity,” said David Terry, NASEO President. “Through the Accelerator, states will work collaboratively with federal and private-sector partners to bring new geothermal power resources online—strengthening grid reliability and lowering energy costs for consumers and businesses in the years ahead.”
As part of today’s announcement, NASEO also released Geothermal Power: Overview and
Considerations for State Policy, Planning, and Market Advancement, a report designed to
support state decisionmakers as they evaluate opportunities to expand geothermal power
generation. The Accelerator initiative and accompanying report build upon ongoing state and
NASEO efforts to support the development of geothermal power projects nationwide.
For more information, visit NASEO’s Geothermal Power Accelerator webpage here.
About the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO)
NASEO is the only national nonprofit association for the governor-designated State Energy
Offices representing all 56 states, territories, and the District of Columbia. Formed by the states
in 1986, NASEO facilitates peer learning among state energy officials, provides technical and
policy assistance to states, represents State Energy Offices before Congress and federal agencies, and engages with NASEO’s private-sector Affiliate Partners to advance energy affordability, reliability, and innovation.
