US Government Funds Geothermal Expansion Amid Reversal of Renewable Energy Funding
In a rare win for renewable energy, the Trump administration has approved an $8.6 million grant to fund the expansion of geothermal heating and cooling networks in Massachusetts. The funding will allow Eversource Energy, a gas and electric utility, to add approximately 140 new customers to its existing network and conduct research on the system's performance.
The project, which is expected to double in size, taps low-temperature thermal energy from dozens of boreholes drilled several hundred feet below ground to provide heating and cooling to residential and commercial buildings. The existing system already serves around 140 customers in the western suburb of Boston.
The federal funding is a significant boost for geothermal energy, a technology that is widely considered one of the most efficient ways to heat and cool buildings. Despite opposition from the Trump administration's efforts to phase out tax credits for wind and solar power, the government has maintained support for geothermal heating and cooling.
"This award is an opportunity and a responsibility to clearly demonstrate and quantify the growth potential of geothermal network technology," said Zeyneb Magavi, executive director of HEET, a Boston-based nonprofit that focuses on geothermal energy. "By harnessing the natural heat from the earth, we are taking a significant step towards increasing our energy independence and promoting abundant local energy sources."
The expansion project is expected to be completed by 2026, with plans calling for roughly doubling Framingham's geothermal network capacity at approximately half the cost of the initial buildout. The project will also help address energy security, affordability, and other challenges facing the community.
As the Trump administration continues to reverse funding for renewable energy projects, this grant represents a rare exception. In July, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which phases out tax credits for wind, solar, and electric vehicles. However, geothermal heating and cooling tax credits approved under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 remain largely intact.
The decision to fund the expansion project comes as a surprise to many, given the administration's efforts to reduce funding for renewable energy projects. However, it appears that the Trump administration has maintained support for geothermal energy, a technology that is gaining traction in the US market.
In a rare win for renewable energy, the Trump administration has approved an $8.6 million grant to fund the expansion of geothermal heating and cooling networks in Massachusetts. The funding will allow Eversource Energy, a gas and electric utility, to add approximately 140 new customers to its existing network and conduct research on the system's performance.
The project, which is expected to double in size, taps low-temperature thermal energy from dozens of boreholes drilled several hundred feet below ground to provide heating and cooling to residential and commercial buildings. The existing system already serves around 140 customers in the western suburb of Boston.
The federal funding is a significant boost for geothermal energy, a technology that is widely considered one of the most efficient ways to heat and cool buildings. Despite opposition from the Trump administration's efforts to phase out tax credits for wind and solar power, the government has maintained support for geothermal heating and cooling.
"This award is an opportunity and a responsibility to clearly demonstrate and quantify the growth potential of geothermal network technology," said Zeyneb Magavi, executive director of HEET, a Boston-based nonprofit that focuses on geothermal energy. "By harnessing the natural heat from the earth, we are taking a significant step towards increasing our energy independence and promoting abundant local energy sources."
The expansion project is expected to be completed by 2026, with plans calling for roughly doubling Framingham's geothermal network capacity at approximately half the cost of the initial buildout. The project will also help address energy security, affordability, and other challenges facing the community.
As the Trump administration continues to reverse funding for renewable energy projects, this grant represents a rare exception. In July, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which phases out tax credits for wind, solar, and electric vehicles. However, geothermal heating and cooling tax credits approved under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 remain largely intact.
The decision to fund the expansion project comes as a surprise to many, given the administration's efforts to reduce funding for renewable energy projects. However, it appears that the Trump administration has maintained support for geothermal energy, a technology that is gaining traction in the US market.
! The fact that the government is finally backing geothermal energy is super exciting 
! I've been following this tech for ages and it's crazy how efficient it can be 
. Can't wait to see more projects like this popping up all over the country 
. It's about time we ditched those fossil fuels and went green 
. And to think, this is just a small step towards energy independence – it's gonna change the game 
!
still, its awesome to see massachusetts getting in on the action and expanding their geothermal network 
i mean we need more people like her who are passionate about making a difference and driving innovation forward 
I can feel how frustrating this must be for people who care about renewable energy 
But hey, at least there's a glimmer of hope in Massachusetts with this geothermal expansion project 
It shows that even with all the setbacks, there are still people who believe in clean energy 
! Finally, some good news on renewable energy! The fact that the Trump admin approved an $8.6 million grant to expand geothermal heating and cooling networks in Massachusetts is a major win for us 
. I mean, who doesn't love harnessing the natural heat from the earth to power our homes and buildings? It's like something straight out of a sci-fi movie 
. And let's be real, it's not like we're talking about some obscure tech here - geothermal heating and cooling is widely considered one of the most efficient ways to heat and cool buildings.
. It's all about creating a more sustainable future, folks! And honestly, I'm not surprised that geothermal energy is gaining traction in the US market - it's just common sense 
It's kinda interesting how sometimes the government reverses its stance on something just to give it another chance. Like, what changed their mind? Did they actually believe geothermal was gonna take off on its own or did they see some benefit in supporting it after all?
. And what's with the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" name? Sounds like something a politician would come up with to confuse us all 
. Anyway, I guess it's good for geothermal energy and all that jazz 
. Can't wait to see more projects like this popping up across the country 
anyway, i guess it's good news for people who live near massachusetts or something... those new customers are gonna get to use all that heat from the ground and stuff 
- Theodore Roosevelt 
