Bold claim: a conventional geothermal breakthrough could redefine clean power in the U.S. And this is where the story gets truly intriguing. Zanskar, a Salt Lake City–based startup, has announced a major milestone in Nevada: the discovery of an untapped, conventional geothermal resource that can be exploited with standard drilling methods. If validated and scaled, this would mark the first such breakthrough in more than 30 years and could accelerate the deployment of reliable, carbon-free power across the grid.
Geothermal energy is enjoying a renaissance, driven in part by startups that want to repurpose fracking-inspired techniques to access heat from rocks deep underground. Yet traditional wisdom suggests most easy-to-tap geothermal reserves have already been located and harnessed. Zanskar sets itself apart by betting on conventional resources rather than chasing radical new drilling technologies. The company leverages contemporary prospecting tools and artificial intelligence to pinpoint viable conventional reservoirs that can be developed with time-tested infrastructure and processes.
The company’s flagship moment arrived this week with the revelation of Big Blind, a naturally occurring geothermal system in western Nevada. Zanskar asserts it could generate more than 100 megawatts of electricity. Significantly, Big Blind is a “blind” system—there are no obvious surface indicators like vents or geysers, and there is no prior exploration data history suggesting a commercial resource. This marks the first such discovery identified for commercial development in over three decades.
In the broader context, the United States currently hosts about 4 gigawatts of installed conventional geothermal capacity, with California accounting for the majority. That positions the U.S. as the world’s leading user of geothermal power, even though the sector still contributes a small fraction (less than a half-percent) to national electricity output.
Zanskar intends to move the project into development within three to five years. If successful, Big Blind would become the nation’s first new conventional geothermal plant on a previously undeveloped site in nearly a decade. It may launch later than some next-generation projects, but it could establish a practical, scalable path forward for conventional geothermal.
Chief executive and cofounder Carl Hoiland described the plan as standard industry practice: interconnection, permitting, construction, and completing the remaining wells and the plant.
What helps Zanskar stand out is its prospecting approach. During surveys, geologists detected a geothermal anomaly indicating exceptionally high heat Flow. The team then fed this data into the company’s AI system to forecast drilling targets and assess temperature and permeability before any wells were drilled.
Two test wells were sunk this past summer. About 2,700 feet down, drilling encountered a porous rock layer with temperatures around 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Zanskar says these conditions meet the minimum thresholds for utility-scale geothermal power and contrast with other nearby regions that would require drilling to roughly 10,000 feet to reach viable reservoirs—an approach favored by some next-generation technologies.
The timing of Zanskar’s announcement aligns with rising demand for electricity, spurred in part by the needs of data centers. Tech giants like Google and Meta are seeking clean, firm power—carbon-free electricity that’s reliably available around the clock. Geothermal, whether conventional or advanced, remains a compelling option for meeting these standards, and several large companies are already investing in next-generation projects.
Zanskar envisions attracting data centers to colocate near any newly discovered resources, which could accelerate project timelines and reduce transmission costs. If Zanskar can identify additional untapped conventional resources suitable for standard geothermal technology, it may deliver new capacity more quickly and at lower cost than some flashier startups that rely on newer, more expensive drilling approaches.
Industry observers note that other players in the space—such as Fervo Energy and XGS Energy—are pursuing emerging technologies aimed at reducing drilling costs, but these efforts still depend on novel methods that carry higher upfront expenses compared with long-established, conventional geothermal practices.
Hoiland has argued that federal estimates of hydrothermal potential have historically been too conservative, a view supported by some in the field. He contends there could be ten times more recoverable resource than official assessments suggest, with each site capable of producing ten times more megawatts than previously assumed.
The broader debate about resource potential, technology risk, and cost will inevitably shape how this discovery is received. Proponents see a practical, scalable path to expanded geothermal capacity using familiar methods; critics may question how quickly a single find can translate into widespread, affordable power.
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Categories: Geothermal, Clean Energy, West, Nevada
Alexander C. Kaufman is an award-winning reporter who has covered energy and climate change for more than a decade.
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