On May 11, from 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will virtually convene stakeholders to discuss the Enhanced Geothermal Shot™—an ambitious initiative to cut the cost of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) by 90% by 2035.

Only a small portion of the geothermal energy—the “heat beneath our feet”—that exists in the United States is accessible with current technology. However, research and innovation to advance enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), which create human-made reservoirs to access energy that was previously stuck below ground, can unlock these energy resources and add clean, firm, and flexible electricity onto the grid. In fact, recent analysis shows that EGS could offer enough capacity to power the equivalent of more than 65 million U.S. homes.

Capturing the country’s vast geothermal potential requires significant investments into research and development, as well as partnerships among communities, states, industry, nonprofits, and the federal government. This summit will convene federal, state, private sector, science, labor, and environmental justice representatives to dive into the challenges and opportunities to help the United States benefit from geothermal energy.