en.Wedoany.com Reported - Two years ago, a community-scale geothermal network in Framingham, Massachusetts, went into operation, hailed as a first-of-its-kind project. The system is owned by Eversource, the state's largest utility company, which delivers heating and cooling to about 140 customers through pipes similar to those once used for natural gas. However, instead of burning fossil fuels to generate heat, the network taps into emission-free thermal energy stored beneath the community, returning heat to the ground when delivering cool air.
Supporters argue that these geothermal loops, owned and operated by utilities and serving entire communities, offer a climate-friendly approach to heating and cooling, providing clean thermal energy, saving consumers money, and creating new business opportunities for gas companies in states trying to move away from fossil fuels. The idea gained traction in Massachusetts largely thanks to the clean heating nonprofit Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) and its advocates. In 2021, the state passed the first U.S. law allowing such systems, and the Framingham pilot project remains the only operational geothermal network in the country. This summer, construction is planned to begin on a second network in Massachusetts.
According to a crowdsourced map created by the Building Decarbonization Coalition, 13 states have now enacted laws promoting thermal networks, and 11 utilities nationwide are developing about 30 projects. New York and Colorado are crafting new laws and directives to encourage pilot programs. As momentum builds, HEET and its allies believe a structural rethink is needed. Lawmakers and regulators are considering two measures to establish guidelines for the ownership of underground thermal energy and how consumers pay for it.
These proposals aim to seize this moment—before rules for thermal energy delivery are set—to develop a course of action that prioritizes affordable service for consumers and good jobs for utility workers over corporate profits. Zeyneb Magavi, executive director of HEET, says that amid volatile and rising natural gas prices, this is an opportunity to change fundamental assumptions about who should benefit from energy resources. "This is the beginning of a new business model creation, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reimagine and redesign the energy system," she said.
In March, the state legislature's Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy advanced a bill, introduced by state Representative Steve Owens (a Democrat) and primarily drafted by HEET, aimed at establishing the existence of thermal commons. The bill would also create a commission to refine this definition and answer key questions: who can access thermal energy under public land, whether there are areas where drilling is prohibited, and how thermal rights extend for private landowners. "This can serve as a foundation for future legal thinking," Magavi said. Meanwhile, Eversource has proposed a new framework for setting geothermal service rates, pending approval from utility regulators. Most utility rates are based on volume, but Eversource wants customers to pay a fixed monthly fee based on heat pump capacity. For example, a household with a 3-ton heat pump would pay a $10 monthly fixed fee plus $14.95 per ton of capacity, totaling $54.85 per month. Customer electricity bills would vary with usage, but the cost of the heating and cooling itself would remain stable.
Eric Bosworth says this is the first time in about 120 years that state utility regulators have been asked to consider a rate structure for an entirely new utility service. However, he believes that before systemic change can take root, more thermal networks need to come online to broadly demonstrate their potential. HEET is committed to learning from new projects, analyzing network effectiveness, and has launched the "Learning From the Ground Up" research initiative to collect data. In Framingham, the organization installed fiber optic sensors in 14 of the 88 boreholes to gather temperature data and confirm system efficiency. Raising public awareness and support is crucial for widespread adoption. Kristin George Bagdanov, deputy director of research at the Building Decarbonization Coalition and author of the newsletter "Cheaper Heat," says thoughtful education and outreach are needed to convince people that thermal systems can be as good as or better than the systems they are used to. Some may worry about the consequences of power outages or losing their gas stoves. Nicole Abene, New York deputy director of the Building Decarbonization Coalition, says some residents are convinced the whole thing is a scam because it promises too much.
Currently, thermal networks have bipartisan appeal. The Trump administration retained tax credits for geothermal energy while canceling other renewable energy incentives, and Republican lawmakers in many states support these systems. HEET works to keep the conversation focused on affordability, jobs, and energy independence, rather than just environmental benefits. "We must stick to the inclusive language and narrative we've been using," Magavi said. "Once certain people in power step in and use partisan language, we could jeopardize the entire system."
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