ThinkGeo writer Carlo Cariaga recently published an article highlighting the new cooperation agreement between Eavor and Sonoma Clean Power (SCP). This agreement was born from an initiative to expand geothermal development in Sonoma and Mendocino counties orchestrated by California’s Geothermal Opportunity Zone (GeoZone).

GeoZone seeks to promote environmental protection while increasing quality of life and high-quality jobs for locals. Their aim is to build 600 MW of incremental local geothermal capacity across multiple projects to achieve these objectives.

Eavor, along with Cyrq Energy and Chevron New Energies, are SCP’s partners in these projects. In expanding their geothermal projects, the company expects 40% of its energy to come from geothermal resources by 2038.

Eavor’s Chief Technology Officer, Matt Towes recently joined Dave Borlace on the ‘Just Have A Think’ YouTube channel for an excellent video on how geothermal is going global! ”Geothermal energy has the potential to provide all our human energy requirements for millions of years. The trouble is we just can’t easily get at it other than in areas of volcanic activity or along fault lines in the earth’s tectonic plates. So geothermal energy has always remained a niche energy source – accounting for just 1% of global energy. Now a Canadian company has developed a system that can work profitably anywhere in the world, regardless of geological conditions. This one could be a winner!!”

America is dialing up the national thermostat on geothermal research and development with new policies and funding from the Biden administration. In the spring of 2022, both sides of American congress agreed to allocate $84 million USD for the development of four demonstrative geothermal projects under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Inflation Reduction Act followed shortly after, providing companies with incentives of up to 40% tax credits for investments in geothermal projects. Businesses that meet livable wage standards and bankroll geothermal ventures will be eligible for a tax credit of 30%. An additional 10% is available for development projects in communities currently or previously reliant on the energy industry, such as those with large fossil fuel sectors or retired coal mines. Politico.com quoted Geothermal Rising board of directors president Kelly Blake in their reporting on the policies, saying the geothermal industry hasn’t received this much interest in over 50 years.

During CERWeek 2023, Eavor CEO, John Redfern participated in a panel discussion focusing on the topic of ‘Transferring Technologies for Next-gen Geothermal’. The panel also featured Andrei Utkin, Abdulaziz Almuhaidib, Douglas Blankenship & Carlos Araque.

Yukon-based columnist Keith Halliday says next-generation geothermal energy could play a vital role in the Canadian territory’s future. Economic commentator Halliday has a long list of opinion pieces written for multiple regional publications, including Yukon News and Tar Sands Diplomat. It is no surprise that many of Halliday’s articles focus on resource development and the environment in a territory primarily driven by mining and tourism. In a recent two-part series, the writer breaks down the past, present, and most importantly, the future of mining and resource extraction in light of global climate change initiatives and attitude shifts towards responsible resource development. Global demand for sustainable minerals like copper and zinc is increasing, and the Yukon has a unique opportunity to supply responsible resources while striving towards reduced emissions and world-wide climate goals.

On March 28, 2023, Chrystia Freeland, the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, tabled Budget 2023, A Made-in-Canada Plan: Strong Middle Class, Affordable Economy, and Healthy Future. Promoting the commercialization and viability of emerging clean technologies to enhance greenhouse gas reduction, job creation, and economic diversification remains a national priority. Various policy mechanisms, some of which are mentioned below, aim to advance this goal, including: Tax rate reductions for zero-emission technology manufacturers; Tax credits for clean electricity production; Investment tax credits for clean technology manufacturing; and Additional funding for the Strategic Innovation Fund.