This panel session tackles the common investor myth that geothermal projects take too long to deliver returns by reframing geothermal as a high-stability, multi-billion-dollar opportunity similar to offshore ventures with unlevered returns on investment typically ranging between 8% and 16%. Panelists will address the misconceptions shaped by shale-era quick-payback mindsets and highlight the differing risk-return profiles of EGS, closed-loop, and hydrothermal systems. Critical topics include overcoming early-stage risks via robust feasibility studies, financial modeling (including IRR, NPV, and hurdle rate adjustments), and case studies showcasing how long-term investor alignment enables geothermals strategic stability. Simultaneously, the panel explores how co-located geothermal applications such as those powering data centers and other energy-intensive industries can deliver pure, baseload energy and on-site cooling, unlocking energy independence while providing compelling commercial value. By integrating engineering expertise from oil & gas, innovative subsurface approaches, and evolving economic models, these on-site geothermal systems are proving viable investment vehicles that reduce grid dependency and enhance sustainability, even in high-demand markets.

• Moderator:  Laura Singer, Baseload Group
• Panelist:  Forrest Carroll, Crusoe
• Panelist:  Derek Dixon, GreenFire Energy
• Panelist:  Torsten Kolind, Underground Ventures UGV
• Panelist:  Jonathan Sisto, RBC Capital Markets
• Panelist:  Nash Stapleton, X-Caliber Rural Capital