2026 GRC: Industry Highlights Presentation
Celebrating the people, progress, and momentum shaping geothermal's future.
At the 2026 Geothermal Rising Conference (GRC) in Houston, we wanted to do something a little different. Rather than opening with a traditional presentation of industry milestones and accomplishments, we set out to tell the story of geothermal's progress through poetry, music, and visual storytelling.
Where the Idea Began
The inspiration came from the World Geothermal Congress in Calgary, where David Townsend's performance during the WING Battle of the Bands demonstrated how music and poetry could bring the geothermal community together in an unexpected and memorable way.
That performance sparked an idea: What if we could capture the energy, innovation, and accomplishments of the geothermal industry in a creative format that celebrated not only how far we've come, but also the people making that progress possible?
With that, the concept for the 2026 GRC Industry Highlights Video was born.
Bringing the Industry's Story Together
Of course, telling the story of an entire industry is no small undertaking.
Geothermal Rising reached out to members and partners across the geothermal community, inviting them to share their milestones, innovations, project achievements, and other accomplishments from the past year. We also gathered photographs, video footage, and other visuals to help bring those stories to life.
The goal was to reflect the breadth and diversity of the geothermal industry, from research and technological innovation to project development, partnerships, and the growing opportunities for geothermal energy around the world.
These contributions helped shape the narrative and provided the foundation for a creative collaboration that brought together industry insights, original poetry, music, and visuals.
From Industry Highlights to a Creative Celebration
Working with David, talented musicians, and the creative team at Gallant, the collection of industry achievements was transformed into a multimedia experience.
The final production combined an original poem, musical performances, and visuals highlighting the people, projects, and innovations advancing geothermal energy.
The result premiered during the Opening Plenary at GRC 2026 in Houston, offering attendees an opportunity to celebrate the industry's collective progress and reflect on the momentum building across the geothermal community.
More than a recap of accomplishments, the video is a reminder that geothermal's future is being shaped by a community of people working together, sharing ideas, overcoming challenges, and pushing the industry forward.
We extend our sincere thanks to David Townsend, the musicians, our creative partners, and all the Geothermal Rising members and industry contributors who helped bring this project to life.
We invite you to watch the video, read the complete poem, and celebrate the geothermal community that inspired it.