Power from the Earth: How AOC’s Geothermal Bill Bridges the Partisan Divide By: Robert Buluma WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an era defined by screaming matches on cable news, government shutdown threats, and a digital landscape that rewards outrage over outcomes, the sight of a bipartisan energy bill passing the U.S. House of Representatives might seem like a relic of a bygone era. Yet, on June 2, 2026, that is precisely what happened. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), the progressive icon often portrayed by critics as a radical disruptor, stood on the House floor to celebrate a legislative victory. Her proposal, the Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act, was folded into the larger, bipartisan Geothermal Energy Advancement Act and passed with support from both sides of the aisle. For observers who have watched Congress devolve into legislative gridlock over the last decade, the image is jarring: "AOC" and "bipartisan success" in the same sentence. But be...
Enhanced Geothermal Systems in Arizona: The 24/7 Renewable Energy Breakthrough Powering the State’s Future
The Heat Below: How Enhanced Geothermal Systems Could Reshape Arizona’s Energy and Economic Future By : Robert Buluma Leveraging subsurface heat, drilling innovation, and policy momentum to unlock 24/7 renewable power. Introduction: A New Energy Frontier in the Desert When people think of Arizona’s energy landscape, solar power is usually the first image—endless panels soaking in 300-plus days of sunshine. But beneath that sun-baked crust lies another, far less visible renewable resource: geothermal energy. Not the kind limited to hot springs or volcanic vents, but a new generation of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) that could, thanks to recent technological leaps, turn dry, hot rock into a reliable, round-the-clock power source. As noted by Tom Cooper, Senior Director of Future System Assets at SRP (Salt River Project ), Arizona is surprisingly well-positioned to become a national leader in this domain. In a recent LinkedIn post, he highlighted three converging factors: high ...