Recently the U.S. Southwest has seen new deals come across from Big Tech firms searching for stable geothermal capacity. Some of the latest deals include moves made by Google in the region. These include two agreements, one with Fervo Energy which included a signed 3 GW framework agreement and a 150 MW of new geothermal capacity agreement in Nevada through an Ormat and NV Energy project. Meta has also been active in the region and lately has signed a 150 MW geothermal agreement with XGS Energy in New Mexico.
These Big Tech geothermal transactions point to a larger infrastructure story. As we continue to see, data centers need power that can run around the clock and as shortages in other renewables are forcing large load customers to scramble to find solutions, geothermal is moving from a niche renewable resource into a more serious option for firm clean electricity.
The map powered by Rextag’s Energy DataLink shows why the U.S. Southwest matters. In Energy DataLink, the operational U.S. geothermal power plant layer is concentrated in these five states: California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, with 56 operational geothermal power plants shown across the region. When layered with transmission lines above 230 kV and operational data centers, that concentration helps explain why hyperscalers are looking at the Southwest as a practical region for adding geothermal to the data center power mix.
Rather than treating geothermal as a standalone renewables story, the map shows it as part of a data center power security strategy. Geothermal is a high capacity factor energy source, which matters for AI and cloud infrastructure that cannot depend only on intermittent generation such as wind and solar.
The result is a new kind of power development pattern where data center demand and available transmission access has made geothermal resources in the Southwest an increasingly attractive resource.
Why it matters
- Data centers need reliable power that can operate day and night.
- Big Tech offtake agreements are helping geothermal developers reduce project risk.
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The U.S. Southwest has both geothermal resources and major data center markets.
- Transmission access remains central to whether geothermal projects can serve growing load.
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The map shows how geothermal plants, data centers, and high-voltage powerlines are beginning to form a clearer infrastructure story.
What the map shows
A U.S. Southwest view of geothermal resources, data center demand, and power transmission infrastructure.
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Operational geothermal power plants
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Transmission powerlines above 230 kV
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California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico context
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Regional callouts for Nevada, Utah, California, and New Mexico geothermal activity
A deeper dive with DataLink
Using Rextag Energy DataLink, users can:
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compare geothermal power plants with nearby data center locations
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trace high-voltage transmission lines across geothermal development regions
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screen renewable power assets against digital infrastructure demand
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evaluate where firm clean power resources and large electricity loads overlap
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build regional infrastructure views for power, renewables, telecom, and investment analysis
Want to see how Rextag’s Energy DataLink works for your team? Click Free Trial to get started, and one of our specialists will walk you through key datasets and workflows.
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