Wyoming Sits Atop Hidden Geothermal Giant That Could Fuel 10% Of America

Wyoming sits on geothermal resources that nobody seems to care about. The state’s got thermal springs bubbling up from underground, hot water sitting in boreholes, and enough heat trapped beneath its surface to power small communities. But instead of tapping into this energy goldmine, Wyoming’s busy installing wind turbines—3,100 megawatts worth by the end of 2023.

The Wyoming State Geological Survey spent time and money creating this fancy interactive map showing where all the hot spots are. They pulled data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the U.S. Geological Survey, and SMU’s Geothermal Laboratory. Decades of research, all compiled into one neat digital package that anyone can access for free. Great. Now what?

Here’s the kicker: Wyoming’s geothermal potential remains “limited” for economic development. That’s bureaucrat speak for “not worth it.” Sure, there’s enough juice for small-scale energy production and heat pumps. Individual buildings could use geothermal to stay warm in winter and cool in summer. Oil and gas operations might offset some energy needs. But powering 10% of America? Not happening.

The Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center has this binary-cycle project that shows promise. It could expand, they say. Meanwhile, Petrolern completed a whole literature review and market analysis for the Wyoming Energy Authority. They assessed commercial viability, looked at direct use applications, and crunched numbers on power production potential. Their conclusion? Technology needs to catch up before Wyoming’s underground heat becomes economically competitive.

The interactive map keeps getting updated as researchers collect more data. They’ve identified anomalous geothermal gradients, modeled groundwater temperatures, and pinpointed thermal springs across the state. All this information sits there, waiting for someone to figure out how to make money from it.

Wyoming’s geothermal resources exist. The data’s been collected, mapped, and analyzed. The potential’s been assessed and reassessed. Despite offering consistent electricity generation regardless of weather conditions unlike solar or wind power, Wyoming will keep sitting on its hidden geothermal giant, letting all that energy simmer underground while the world burns fossil fuels above. Dr. Erin Campbell, the state’s top geologist, keeps pushing for better understanding of these resources, but understanding doesn’t pay the bills.