One signal

Geothermal is drawing support from both sides of the US political divide, as demand for reliable power from AI data centres helps attract investment to the industry. The political welcome is running ahead of proof that newer geothermal projects can deliver electricity cheaply and reliably at scale.

What happened Axios reports that geothermal provisions feature in a bipartisan Senate permitting bill, after the House passed a package with several similar measures. The Senate proposal would ease exploration and leasing on federal land, speed up drilling permits and exempt some activities from environmental reviews. The appeal crosses familiar political lines: geothermal is renewable, relies on drilling expertise associated with oil and gas, and can provide power around the clock. Axios says technology companies are willing to pay a premium for next-generation geothermal to power data centres, adding to the investment case. Why it matters

Discuss: Should the US make geothermal permitting easier before the technology has proved it can deliver reliably at scale, or is that the step needed to find out?

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