A computer-aided model of a geothermal energy plant

Drilling expert shifts from oil and gas to geothermal energy

Ground source heat pumps, which use stable underground temperatures for efficient heating and cooling, could expand to 80 million homes by 2050, but the industry faces a shortage of skilled drillers.

Phil McKenna reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

Brock Yordy, a former oil and gas drilling expert, co-founded the Geothermal Drillers Association to address the growing need for trained workers in geothermal heating and cooling.
The U.S. Department of Energy projects that ground source heat pumps could serve tens of millions of homes, but scaling up requires significantly increasing the drilling workforce.
Yordy advocates for localized hiring, training new workers and transitioning drillers from fossil fuels while ensuring jobs remain family-sustaining.

Why this matters:

Geothermal energy offers a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuel-based heating and cooling, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while improving energy efficiency. Unlike air-source heat pumps, which lose effectiveness in extreme temperatures, ground source heat pumps rely on stable underground temperatures, making them more reliable year-round.

However, widespread adoption depends on workforce development, as drilling requires specialized skills. Transitioning workers from the oil and gas industry to geothermal could create new jobs while shifting energy infrastructure toward sustainability.

insideclimatenews.org

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