Potential Workforce Implications of the Geothermal Industry Across the United States

Posted April 1, 2026

A new report from the LSU Center for Energy Studies, in collaboration with the Colorado School of Mines, examines the potential economic implications of a large-scale geothermal energy buildout in the United States. The research was funded by Third Way.

Using scenario-based projections through 2050, the analysis estimates associated investment and economic activity based on the modeling framework described in the report.

The study evaluates three development scenarios, with installed geothermal capacity projected to reach between 10 and 36 gigawatts by 2050 and capital expenditures ranging from approximately $20 billion to $139 billion (2025 dollars). Construction activity is estimated to support between 7,400 and 39,400 jobs annually over the next decade, while ongoing operations support between 6,500 and 24,200 jobs nationwide each year once the buildout is completed.

Read the report here.