As directed by LD 1619, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has delivered a report to the Maine Legislature on thermal energy networks. Geothermal energy, which draws heat from beneath the earth’s surface for uses such as heating, cooling, and power generation, could provide energy efficiency and reliability benefits for Maine. Thermal energy networks are one application of geothermal energy focused on providing heating and cooling for buildings and industrial processes, rather than on electricity or power generation. DOER will be undertaking a separate study on geothermal power generation in 2026.
The report was informed by stakeholder responses to a Request for Information released in September 2025 to gather input on a range of topics including feasibility, costs, workforce considerations, electric grid impacts, and relevance to state climate goals. Further study will be important to address deployment challenges such as upfront costs and evaluation of where and how thermal networks could be most effectively deployed in Maine. The final report is available to view here (PDF link).