Arizona House Rural Economic Development Committee Chairman Teresa Martinez announced on June 10 the Legislature’s final approval of House Concurrent Resolution 2057, which expresses support for geothermal energy development in Arizona. The resolution passed both chambers unanimously and has been transmitted to the Secretary of State.
HCR 2057 recognizes geothermal energy as a reliable, around-the-clock power source that could help strengthen Arizona’s electric grid, support economic development, and meet the state’s growing energy demands. The resolution encourages state agencies to work toward clearer rules, better coordination, and more efficient permitting so Arizona is prepared to develop its geothermal potential.
“This is simple: Arizona needs more power, and geothermal is one resource we should be taking seriously. It is reliable, it is here, and new technology is making it more realistic to develop,” according to Representative Martinez. Martinez was elected to the Arizona State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 16th House District, replacing previous state representative John Fillmore, according to Ballotpedia.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Arizona may have up to 10 gigawatts of renewable geothermal energy potential. Representative Martinez said HCR 2057 is an important step toward turning that potential into real projects. “This resolution does not build a power plant tomorrow,” Martinez continued. “What it does is tell state agencies to get serious, work together, and make sure Arizona is ready for geothermal projects when they come.”
The U.S. Department of Energy describes geothermal electricity as baseload power with a high-capacity factor, meaning it can provide steady electricity regardless of weather or time of day. The Department has also found that technology improvements could significantly expand geothermal electricity generation in the United States, including the potential for geothermal to provide a much larger share of the nation’s electricity by 2050.
More information about this legislative action can be found at the organization’s press release.
