A new report finds that with immediate action, Pennsylvania could tap into its vast underground heat to meet 100% of its electricity, heating, and industrial thermal needs within ten years—using the skills and infrastructure of its existing oil and gas workforce.
"The Future of Geothermal in Pennsylvania" evaluates the Commonwealth’s geothermal potential and highlights widespread opportunities across sectors—from residential and commercial buildings to agriculture, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals. It also maps out “hot spots” across the state capable of producing reliable, always-on geothermal power.
While geothermal has long been a safe and sustainable energy source, it was historically limited to geologically active areas. Now, new technologies pioneered by the oil and gas industry are unlocking geothermal energy almost anywhere—including Pennsylvania.
The report featured IEE faculty members Seth Blumsack and Anne Menefee as lead authors and Hannah Wiseman as a contributor. It was supported by Project InnerSpace in partnership with Penn State and contributors from four Pennsylvania institutions.
Full press release: https://projectinnerspace.org/news/Pennsylvania-Report.pdf
Anne Menefee
