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Michael O’Connor

Deputy Director of Energy for Geothermal

Mike is a Ph.D. geoscientist with clean energy commercialization and policy expertise.  Most recently, he led strategic vision, market analysis, and program development for the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) across geothermal energy and carbon management, including as a co-author of the “Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Next-Generation Geothermal Power” report.  Prior to OCED, he served in senior leadership offices at DOE helping to strengthen the Agency’s commercialization capabilities, as well as in the House of Representatives, where he contributed to the development of clean energy policy. 

Posts

Mammoth Geothermal complex at Casa Diablo Hot Springs in Mammoth Lake, CA.

Geothermal demonstrations get their day

This week, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) announcing the the largest single tranche of funding for enhanced geothermal energy systems in the history of the sector: $171.5 million in grant capital to support research, development, and, most importantly, early commercial demonstration of enhanced and conventional geothermal systems. This announcement could shape the future of the industry.