Meta’s Billion-Dollar Bet: Waterless Geothermal Power Fuels New Mexico’s AI Future

While most geothermal plants guzzle water like a marathon runner in Death Valley, XGS Energy just flipped the script in New Mexico. Their waterless tech doesn’t need a drop to produce electricity. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

Meta’s throwing serious cash at this—we’re talking about a 150 MW project that’ll make New Mexico’s current geothermal output look like a science fair experiment. The state produces some geothermal now, but this project alone will multiply it by ten. That’s not growth; that’s transformation.

Here’s the highlight: New Mexico sits on 160 GW of untapped geothermal potential. The state’s already pumping oil and gas like there’s no tomorrow, ranking second nationally. Now they’re pivoting to hot rocks. Smart move, considering their clean energy goals aren’t exactly optional anymore.

Meta needs this power yesterday. AI data centers eat electricity like teenagers raid refrigerators—constantly and without mercy. These facilities can’t run on sunshine and good intentions. They need baseload power, 24/7, no excuses. Geothermal delivers that reliability without the carbon guilt trip. With an impressive 95% availability factor, geothermal power provides the consistent energy supply these data centers demand.

AI data centers eat electricity like teenagers raid refrigerators—constantly and without mercy.

Construction starts small, then goes big. Phase one gets the ball rolling, phase two brings the full 150 MW online by 2030. The power feeds into PNM’s grid, which means everyone benefits, not just Zuckerberg’s server farms.

Let’s talk jobs. Construction crews, maintenance teams, operations staff—all local, all well-paid. The project will create 3,000 construction jobs during build-out, plus another hundred permanent positions. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham called this project a catalyst for high-quality jobs that’ll reshape the state’s energy workforce. This isn’t some fly-by-night operation. It’s infrastructure that’ll run for decades.

The timing couldn’t be better. Or worse, depending on your perspective. Climate goals are tightening, water’s getting scarcer, and everyone’s suddenly obsessed with AI. New Mexico’s sitting pretty with hot rocks, no water requirements, and Meta’s checkbook.

The state published “The Future of Geothermal in New Mexico,” which basically reads like a love letter to underground heat. They’re calling it a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Translation: don’t screw this up.

This partnership between Meta and XGS isn’t just about powering servers. It’s New Mexico betting its energy future on technology that actually works in the desert. No water required. Just heat, ambition, and a billion-dollar appetite for clean power.