First geothermal network owned by a utility to expand in size thanks to funding from the Department of Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded an $8.6 million grant to enable the countrys first utility-operated geothermal heating and cooling system to double its capacity. Eversource Energy, a combined gas and electric utility, completed the initial phase of the Framingham, Massachusetts network in 2024. The funding will be shared with the city of Framingham and HEET, a Boston-based nonprofit focused on geothermal solutions, which is the primary recipient.

Geothermal systems are recognized as highly energy-efficient methods for heating and cooling structures. With the DOE grant, Eversource plans to connect around 140 additional customers to the Framingham network and conduct research to monitor system performance. Although the funding was announced in December 2024, the DOE-HEET contract was finalized on September 30, 2025, allowing construction to move forward.

The current network serves roughly 140 residential and commercial buildings in Framingham. It draws low-temperature thermal energy from numerous boreholes drilled several hundred feet underground, where temperatures remain consistently around 55F. Water circulates through the boreholes to buildings, where electric heat pumps provide supplementary heating or cooling as required.

Utilizing geothermal heat from the earth significantly advances our energy independence and supports abundant local energy sources, stated Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky.

Despite prior federal opposition to some renewable energy sectors, geothermal energy continues to receive bipartisan support. President Trumps 2017 executive order on energy emergencies included geothermal in a limited mix of supported energy resources. Subsequent legislation maintained geothermal heating and cooling tax incentives approved under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, even as wind, solar, and electric vehicle credits were reduced.

The DOE recently reorganized its offices, eliminating the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy but retaining geothermal programs within the new Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office. Geothermal being recognized on the federal agenda is significant, said Nikki Bruno, Eversources VP for thermal solutions. It shows bipartisan confidence in the technology.

Plans for the expansion aim to roughly double the networks size while cutting costs by about half compared to the initial setup, in part by utilizing existing infrastructure. With existing pumping and control systems in place, new pump houses arent necessary, explained geothermal consultant Eric Bosworth, who supervised the original Framingham project.

Efficiency is expected to improve as the network grows, since differing building heating and cooling demands balance out more effectively. The project is pending state regulatory approval, with Eversource targeting a construction start by late 2026.

We are witnessing the emergence of a new utility model, said HEET Executive Director Zeyneb Magavi. Geothermal networks can help tackle energy security, affordability, and multiple other challenges.

Author: Benjamin Carter