The Geothermal Rising Student Chapter at the University of North Dakota (UND) hosted an outreach event during the UND Welcome Weekend, on August 20, 2023, to raise awareness about geothermal energy, a renewable and sustainable source of heat and power. In collaboration with the Geothermal Rising Student Committee, the event aimed at bridging the knowledge gap and highlighting the crucial role of renewable resources in tackling climate change.

Approximately 50 students attended the event, engaging in various activities designed to provide a comprehensive "Geothermal 101" experience. One of the event's highlights was a series of poster presentations held around the Geology and Geological Engineering Department. These informative and engaging displays served as a visual guide to geothermal energy, illustrating its core principles, environmental benefits, and potential applications. What left a profound impression on the organizers was the considerable knowledge gap among attendees regarding geothermal energy and its manifold benefits. Geothermal energy, often overshadowed by more prevalent renewable energy sources like wind and solar, proved to be an underrepresented resource with gigantic potential.

The significance of this outreach initiative lay in its capacity to not only demonstrate the significant potential of geothermal energy in curtailing greenhouse gas emissions, but also in accentuating the role of student-led entities, exemplified by the Geothermal Rising chapter, as advocates for sustainable solutions. The event's resounding success underscored the vital role of education and outreach in propelling society toward a greener and more sustainable future. Moreover, the UND student chapter of Geothermal Rising is gearing up to organize another outreach activity in the upcoming months, further solidifying their commitment to educating the campus community and promoting the importance of sustainable energy sources. By continuing these initiatives, the Geothermal Rising chapter at UND is actively contributing to the university's mission of fostering environmentally conscious citizens and addressing the pressing energy challenges of our time.

The first issue of the returning Bulletin is complete and physical copies will be sent out in the coming weeks to our U.S. resident members! A digital copy is available in the GR library for those who are outside the distribution range. You can access it here.

For those newer to the community, the Bulletin was a regular publication distributed to GR members that was halted as an in-print publication in 2018 and ceased altogether in 2020. We are excited to be bringing this membership perk back to you!

Some of the highlights of this issue are:

• A recap of the inaugural Geothermal Day on Capitol Hill. Hosted by Geothermal Rising and consortium of partner organizations, the event was a smashing success that brought together 130 people from over five dozen companies and organizations and involved 60 meetings with congressional offices from across the country. 
• A look at Cornell University's Climate Action Plan and an update on the Cornell University Borehole Observatory (CUBO).
• An update on Geothermal Rising's partnership with The Discover Museum in creating a geothermal-themed museum exhibit that will be unveiled at the 2023 Geothermal Rising Conference (GRC).
• An introduction to Geothermal Rising's new executive director, Bryant Jones. Get to know Bryant and his vision for where the organization and industry are headed.
• Much, much more!

A big thank you to all of the volunteers who helped make this happen!

The Western Governors' Association, Chaired by Colorado Governor Polis, has spearheaded an initiative focused on geothermal technologies, culminating in the publication of the report: The Heat Beneath Our Feet. This report recognizes the vast potential of geothermal in the West, both for power generation and heat and cooling. This initiative involved rigorous stakeholder engagement which identified barriers to rapid geothermal expansion and deployment, and the report outlines vital policy recommendations to address these.  

Bryant Jones, Executive Director of Geothermal Rising comments: “decarbonizing residential and commercial buildings by using geothermal heating and cooling systems and geothermal heat pumps will significantly reduce carbon, save consumers money, create jobs, and improve public health. Hydrogen, direct air capture, lithium and critical mineral recovery, securing a stable and decarbonized electric grid, efficient and carbon-free air conditioning, and the push to electrify everything will only succeed with geothermal. It is exciting to see that Governor Polis and the WGA realize this fact.”

One vital recommendation in the WGA report is risk mitigation programs for geothermal well drilling and exploration. The United States created energy risk mitigation programs after the oil crises in the 1970s which resulted in significant growth for geothermal across the United States in the 1980s. The geothermal industry needs these programs restarted. Additionally, the WGA report recognizes the need for geothermal to be eligible for the same tax credits as other energy technologies such as deducting intangible drilling costs, defined as costs related to drilling that have no salvageable value, from the income tax of geothermal companies.

The WGA report also highlights the need for the geothermal permitting process to be streamlined on federal lands. Geothermal has the lowest lifecycle carbon footprint and the smallest environmental impact of all renewable energy technologies yet has more onerous federal permitting requirements even than that of oil and gas development. The WGA report recognizes this and recommends increasing Bureau of Land Management (BLM) staffing capacity to process geothermal permits, streamlining geothermal leasing, and granting a geothermal-specific categorical exclusion under NEPA for geothermal exploratory drilling on federal lands.

Demonstration and deployment funding is also recognized by the WGA report. Geothermal technologies are proven and have been cooling homes, heating schools, and generating electricity for decades in the United States. The geothermal industry needs deployment funding to commercialize and scale proven technology as well as demonstration funds to test new innovations.

About Geothermal Rising: Geothermal Rising (GR) is the largest and oldest geothermal non-profit organization in the world, founded in 1972. GR builds community and empowers the geothermal industry by aligning all geothermal heat source, direct use and power production applications. GR is the leading professional development and educational outreach resource for the geothermal industry. Find out more or join today:    https://www.geothermal.org/