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Utah Geological Survey seeks state funds for geothermal expansion; governor’s budget includes $4.3 million
Summary
The Utah Geological Survey detailed a multi-year plan to accelerate geothermal resource assessment and site studies. The governor included $4.3 million in his proposed budget, below UGS’s $5 million request, and UGS staff described how the money would be used for equipment, data, and a limited number of hires.
The Utah Geological Survey (UGS) presented a statewide plan on Jan. 15 to expand geothermal resource assessment and early-stage site characterization, a campaign tied to the governor’s Operation Gigawatt energy initiative. UGS leaders said the agency requested $5 million and the governor’s proposed budget included $4.3 million for geothermal work beginning in fiscal 2026.
UGS geothermal section manager Christian Arbic described the request as a mix of equipment upgrades, data synthesis, software and two years of staff time to build a public-facing statewide geothermal dataset and a set of prospect leads. “Good policy requires good data,” Arbic said, quoting U.S. Geological Survey director Dave Applegate while emphasizing the agency’s role in producing foundational science the state and industry can use.
Why it matters: UGS…
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