A Big Win for American Energy Independence
Think about it this way: beneath the Nevada desert, there’s a massive underground heat source that nobody knew existed until now. A company called Zanskar just discovered the first commercially viable “blind” geothermal system in over 30 years – and they did it using artificial intelligence.
This is exactly the kind of energy discovery conservatives have been hoping for. It’s American-made power that doesn’t rely on foreign imports or government handouts. The underground system in western Nevada has the potential to produce more than 100 megawatts of electricity, enough to power thousands of homes around the clock.
Why This Discovery Matters Now
Here’s what makes this find so important for limited government supporters:
Geothermal is the rare alternative energy source with wide bipartisan backing. Unlike wind and solar, which need massive subsidies and only work when nature cooperates, geothermal runs 24/7 without needing constant government support.
The discovery couldn’t come at a better time. The U.S. clamors for more electricity, in large part because of shockingly high forecasts of power demand from data centers. Those AI data centers that everyone’s talking about? They need reliable power that never stops.
Zanskar drilled two intermediate depth wells in July and August 2025 and intersected an approximately 250°F permeable reservoir at roughly 2,700 feet depth. That’s hot enough to generate serious power, and shallow enough to keep costs reasonable.
The Trump Administration Gets Behind It
This isn’t just talk. Chris Wright, the new U.S. Secretary of Energy under the Trump administration, signed his first Secretarial Order in early February 2025 calling to:
“Unleash [the] Golden Era of American Energy Dominance,” which explicitly states support for geothermal energy.”
Energy Secretary Chris Wright isn’t shy about his support.
“This is just an awesome resource that’s under our feet,” Wright said.
Wright stated in March 2025 that a strong geothermal industry:
“could better energize our country, [and] improve the quality of life for everyone. It could help enable AI, manufacturing, reshoring and stop the rise of our electricity prices.”
The best part? This technology uses skills and equipment from America’s oil and gas industry. Before his appointment to lead the Energy Department, Wright was CEO of Liberty Energy, an oil drilling services company that invested in Fervo Energy, a leading geothermal startup. Those roughnecks and drilling crews who built America’s energy independence with fracking can now tap into the Earth’s natural heat.
What Critics Are Missing
Some environmental groups complain that geothermal still involves drilling. They’d rather see more wind turbines and solar panels covering the landscape.
But here’s what they don’t understand:
The United States currently has an installed capacity of roughly 4 gigawatts of conventional geothermal, most of which is in California, making America the world’s top user of this technology.
Unlike those massive solar farms that destroy desert ecosystems or wind turbines that kill birds, geothermal has a tiny footprint. To support a successful geothermal power plant, a site needs high temperatures at an accessible depth and space for fluid to move through the rock and deliver heat. Once you drill the wells, that’s it – no ongoing environmental damage.
Looking Ahead
Zanskar has already found a deep bench of additional geothermal anomalies that are slated for deeper exploratory drilling.
Company co-founder Carl Hoiland believes:
“There’s 10 times more out there than they thought, and that every one of those sites can be 10 times more productive in terms of the number of megawatts they can generate.”
For Nevada specifically, this could mean jobs, energy independence, and lower power bills. The company plans to seek permits to develop Big Blind into a commercial venture. It hopes the site will provide power by later this decade.
What Conservatives Can Do
Support politicians who understand that American energy independence means using all our resources wisely. Contact your representatives and tell them to streamline permitting for geothermal projects. These projects shouldn’t take years to approve when the technology is proven and safe.
Watch for investment opportunities in companies developing this technology. The free market, not government picking winners and losers, should drive this innovation forward.
Most importantly, spread the word that there’s an energy solution that actually makes sense: Always on, American-made, and using technology we’ve already mastered. That’s the kind of energy future conservatives can get behind.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
