Social Acceptance of Geothermal Systems in the United States
Geothermal energy has the potential to play a major role in the United States’ clean-energy transition by providing reliable, low-carbon heating, cooling, and power. Yet despite its technical strengths, geothermal deployment remains limited across much of the country. This study shows that social acceptance—how people perceive, evaluate, and feel about geothermal technologies—is now a decisive factor shaping geothermal’s real-world viability.
Based on a national survey of more than 6,000 U.S. residents, including detailed analysis across five regions and 14 geothermal-relevant states, the study compares public acceptance of geoexchange, hydrothermal, and next-generation geothermal systems. Acceptance is measured as a combination of favorability, comfort, and general support, and analyzed alongside key social and psychological drivers.
The results reveal a consistent national pattern: geothermal enjoys moderate and broadly positive acceptance across the U.S., even though public familiarity remains relatively low. Across nearly all regions and states, perceived benefits—such as reliability, affordability, and long-term value—are the strongest and most consistent drivers of acceptance. Fairness, familiarity, social responsibility, and social norms play important secondary roles, shaping how acceptance forms in different contexts.
Importantly, perceived risk does not emerge as a dominant barrier in general attitudinal evaluations, suggesting that public concern is less about fear and more about whether geothermal is seen as beneficial, fair, and socially valuable. Acceptance of next-generation geothermal, in particular, is shaped more by perceptions of long-term community benefit and societal contribution than by technical risk.
Overall, the findings indicate that geothermal’s challenge is not public opposition, but visibility, clarity, and alignment with local priorities. When geothermal is understood and framed around tangible benefits and fairness, public support is strong—providing a solid foundation for responsible scale-up.