Pennsylvania is a nationwide leader in electricity production and the second largest natural gas producer in the U.S., mostly due to innovation and investment in unconventional gas exploration. Given Pennsylvania’s long history with the oil and gas industry and skilled workforce, we are uniquely positioned to become a leader in next-generation geothermal energy
, including Enhanced Geothermal Systems. This new-emerging technology uses similar drilling techniques as oil and gas operations but instead harnesses heat deep beneath the Earth’s surface.
Historically, geothermal energy production has been limited to areas with especially hot subsurface conditions, usually locations found near volcanoes or hot springs. But with technological advancements pioneered by the unconventional gas industry, we may soon be able to tap into geothermal resources deep within Pennsylvania, enabling us to produce clean energy for residential, commercial, and industrial uses.
If we are to see investment in Pennsylvania, we will need to establish regulatory clarity, as states like Texas, West Virginia, and Washington have done. For these reasons, I will soon introduce a Senate companion to a bipartisan bill that will be introduced in the House by Representatives Arvind Venkat, Craig Williams, and Elizabeth Fiedler. This legislation will establish a regulatory framework for next-generation geothermal energy development in Pennsylvania, including:
- Authorizing the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to regulate geothermal injection wells and create a permitting process,
- Defining “Geothermal Resources” to encompass all geothermal technologies,
- Establishing subsurface ownership rights for geothermal resources,
- Permitting abandoned oil and gas wells to be repurposed into geothermal wells.
A thriving, growing, job-creating economy is not built on yesterday's technologies. It's built on innovation and bold investments. Geothermal energy is a potentially limitless, always-on power source that could provide clean, locally sourced heat and electricity to millions of Pennsylvania residents and businesses.
Please join me in co-sponsoring this important, bipartisan legislation to reduce costs for consumers, support economic growth, create new jobs for oil and gas workers, and secure our energy independence.