Fervo Energy, Southern Utah University, and Elemental Impact recently announced the launch of the first geothermal apprenticeship program in the United States.
This program will support oil and gas workers and Southwest Utah residents who are interested in joining the growing enhanced geothermal industry.
The program, administered by SUU and funded in part by Elemental, will provide those seeking new skill sets with the opportunity to learn geothermal directional drilling and well completions, while combining on-the-job training with college-level coursework on geology and energy systems. This approach offers pathways for traditional college students as well as adult and working learners interested in careers in the geothermal energy industry.
“Thousands of Americans work in upstream oil and gas, and with the right tools, they can easily apply their skill sets to geothermal production,” said Tim Latimer, Fervo CEO and Co-Founder. “We can harness the full potential of this existing talent pool and attract new talent beyond current fossil fuel workers by providing on-the-ground and in-classroom training opportunities. We believe that our apprenticeship program with SUU can ignite that process, supporting local job growth across Southwest Utah.”
22 individuals working with ten different oilfield service providers operating in the area have already registered for the geothermal apprenticeship program. By the end of 2024, the program aims to enroll at least 40 apprentices.
“Southwest Utah has the resource potential to become a national clean energy hub, and we have the human potential to make that vision a reality,” said Dr. Bill Heyborne, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Professor of Biology. “Our new apprenticeship program will prepare Utahns to drive much-needed energy innovation in the communities they call home.”
Funding from Elemental Impact, a nonprofit investor in climate technology and community focused initiatives, enabled Fervo to offer this workforce training program.
“Demand for electricity is surging and expected to double in the US by 2030; geothermal sources, like those being deployed by Fervo, have the potential to meet that demand while boosting local jobs,” said Dawn Lippert, Founder and CEO of Elemental Impact. “We are thrilled to support this geothermal apprenticeship program and help power the transfer of valuable skills from oil and gas professionals to the geothermal industry. This initiative, in partnership with SUU, is an essential bridge to building a local workforce and advancing the clean energy transition.”
You can learn more about clean energy and climate apprenticeship programs on Green Jobs Network website climateapprenticeships.com.
