Drilling for renewables in Texas

12/15/22 • 54 min

As if it wasn’t enough that Texas has some of the best wind resource, best solar resource, and largest shale oil and gas deposits in the world, the Lone Star State also has a great geothermal resource. Unlike the others resources, though, geothermal is yet to be tapped. That’s about to change.

The Texas Geothermal Alliance launched last year and has grown to nearly 50 members including major oil and gas companies, power generators, and pure play geothermal companies.

On Episode 4 of the Texas Power Podcast, host Doug Lewin is joined by Barry Smitherman, TxGEA’s chairman and president. Barry’s not new to the energy world in Texas though. He’s the only Texan to ever chair both the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Railroad Commission (which regulates oil and gas). He literally has a unique perspective.
Barry and Doug talked about geothermal and how perfectly suited it is to a state that has drilled—get this—one million wells. They also discussed the ongoing PUC market design debates and discussions which are reaching a sort of crescendo as the PUC drives toward a January 12 decision just two days after the Texas Legislature gavels in for their biennial regular session.
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The Texas Power Podcast is a production of Renewable Energy World and Clarion Energy. Check out our podcast for the solar industry, Factor This!
You can connect with Texas Power Podcast host Doug Lewin on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The Texas Geothermal Alliance launched last year and has grown to nearly 50 members including major oil and gas companies, power generators, and pure play geothermal companies.

Previous Episode

Bonus: Texas grid braces for winter. What’s changed since Uri?

This episode was originally published on Renewable Energy World's Factor This! podcast.
It's been more than 600 days since the lights went out for millions of Texans during Winter Storm Uri.

The near-total collapse of the Texas grid can be attributed to a number of culprits— and there has been no shortage of finger-pointing.

Promises were made that what happened in February 2021 would never happen again. And a market redesign that's underway is supposed to be the solution.

To better understand what's happening, and what's to come, Episode 24 of the Factor This! podcast features Texas Capitol mainstays Caitlin Smith of Jupiter Power, Mark Stover of Apex Clean Energy, and Doug Lewin, host of Renewable Energy World's Texas Power Podcast.

Show notes:
-Check out the "Don't California my Texas (electricity market)" episode of the Texas Power Podcast for a deep dive into a highly-anticipated report on the three electricity market redesign proposals.
-Read the ICF report commissioned by the Texas Consumer Association
Factor This! is produced by Renewable Energy World and Clarion Energy. Connect with John Engel, the host of Factor This!, on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Next Episode

Geothermal energy and the revival of a forgotten renewable

Tim Latimer was working as a drilling engineer in South Texas when he couldn't shake a newfound curiosity.
Latimer was new to the oil and gas industry, and in 2012, the industry was at the height of the shale revolution. He was tasked with navigating the challenges created by high drilling temperatures in the Eagle Ford Shale region.
As he did more research Latimer discovered the world of geothermal energy. Fast forward a decade later and his company, Fervo Energy, is leading the revival of what Latimer calls a forgotten renewable.
Latimer joined the Texas Power Podcast from Renewable Energy World to discuss his background, geothermal's resurgence, and the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on the industry.
Episode notes:
-Read this podcast's article on Renewable Energy World
-Listen to the Texas Power Podcast episode featuring Texas Geothermal Energy Alliance Chairman Barry Smitherman
-Check out this Volts Podcast episode on enhanced geothermal energy's potential