On the rugged flanks of Newberry Volcano in Oregon, a team of engineers is pushing the boundaries of geothermal energy, constructing what could become the world’s hottest geothermal power plant. Temperatures have already hit 629 degrees Fahrenheit deep underground, tapping into superhot rock that promises baseload clean power unlike any other renewable source. This ambitious project, led by innovators adapting oilfield drilling tech, arrives at a pivotal moment for U.S. energy independence amid surging demand from AI data centers and electrification.

Oregon Public Broadcasting first detailed the endeavor, which was later picked up by the Washington Post. The Post noted its proximity to one of America’s most hazardous volcanoes, as classified by the U.S. Geological Survey. Engineers are drilling into rocks heated to infernal levels, aiming to produce electricity for homes and businesses starting in 2026. ‘Tapping energy from “superhot rock” could produce cheap, clean, constant energy almost anywhere — if drills and wells can survive infernal heat and pressure,’ the Post reported on November 19, 2025.

Volcanic Heat: Nature’s Untapped Furnace

Newberry Volcano, located in central Oregon’s Deschutes National Forest, looms large over the project site. Spanning 17 square miles with a caldera formed 600,000 years ago, it last erupted around 1,300 years ago, spewing lava flows still visible today. The U.S. Geological Survey ranks it among the nation’s most dangerous due to its potential for explosive eruptions, yet its subsurface heat—exceeding 500°F at depths of just 1.5 miles—makes it ideal for enhanced geothermal systems (EGS).

Traditional geothermal plants rely on natural steam or hot water reservoirs, limiting them to geologically favorable spots like California’s Geysers or Iceland’s fields. This project employs EGS, fracturing hot dry rock to create artificial reservoirs, circulating water through them to generate steam for turbines. NewsNation reported on November 20, 2025, that the plant ‘will start selling electricity to nearby homes and businesses in 2026.’

While Fervo Energy dominates headlines with its Utah projects, this Oregon initiative stands out for extreme temperatures. Slashdot highlighted the Slashdot story on November 22, 2025, aggregating buzz from the Washington Post: ‘On the slopes of an Oregon volcano, engineers are building the hottest geothermal power plant on Earth.’

Engineering the Inferno

Drilling superhot rock demands materials and techniques borrowed from the oil and gas sector. Conventional geothermal wells top out at 500°F, but here engineers use specialized drill bits and casings resistant to corrosion and thermal shock. Water injected at high pressure creates fractures, allowing circulation rates that could yield 10-20 MW per well, far surpassing traditional outputs.

The project’s anonymity in early reports—no lead company named yet—suggests it’s either in stealth mode or backed by a consortium. Recent web searches reveal parallels with Fervo Energy’s Cape Station in Utah, where temperatures reach 773°F near Black Rock Volcano. Fervo broke ground in 2023 on a 400 MW facility, partnering with Southern California Edison and Baker Hughes, as per Fervo’s site and Canary Media on September 26, 2023.

Singularity Hub detailed on June 12, 2025, how Fervo adapts fracking tech: ‘Fervo is using technology developed in the oil and gas industry to unlock the vast stores of geothermal power under our feet.’ In Utah’s Beaver County, near the FORGE site—a Department of Energy testbed—Fervo drilled production wells hitting over 400°F.

Utah’s Parallel Power Play

Fervo’s Cape Station, often conflated in searches with the Oregon project, exemplifies the superhot trend. Phase 1 targets 90 MW by 2026, scaling to 400 MW by 2028. The Salt Lake Tribune reported on March 9, 2024, ‘Fervo Energy has announced a quarter billion dollars in financing and is aiming for 2026 to start operating Utah’s first enhanced geothermal energy project in Beaver County.’

Baker Hughes will supply five 60 MW Organic Rankine Cycle units for Phase II, per Construction Review Online on September 3, 2025. Bill Gates spotlighted it on GatesNotes on September 4, 2025: ‘Utah’s hottest new power source is below the ground.’ X posts from industry watchers like Jesse Jenkins echoed the momentum, noting Fervo’s Nevada pilot generated 3.5 MW in 2023.

The FORGE site in Utah, funded by DOE, validates EGS at scale. Deseret News on July 7, 2023, described drilling ‘thousands upon thousands of feet underground to produce geothermal energy by reaching well over 400 degrees.’ A 2024 Deseret update confirmed viability.

Tech Transfer from Fossils to Renewables

Key to success: horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, honed in shale gas booms. Fervo’s Nevada test, hooked to the grid in 2023, proved commercial viability, per Bloomberg via X posts. Joel Edwards of another firm touted a New Mexico well at over 200 MWth on X in February 2025.

Challenges persist: sealing wells against 700°F+ fluids, managing induced seismicity, and scaling injection rates. Yet costs are plummeting—Fervo aims for $45/MWh, rivaling gas. DOE’s Geothermal Shot targets 12% of U.S. power by 2050.

The Washington Post emphasized durability: wells must withstand decades of brutal conditions. Recent X chatter, including Slashdot’s November 23 post, amplifies hype around ‘the hottest geothermal power plant.’

Economic and Grid Imperative

U.S. electricity demand surges 15% by 2030, driven by EVs and hyperscalers. Geothermal offers 24/7 dispatchability, complementing intermittents. Fervo’s $400 million raise values it at unicorn status.

Oregon’s project could power Central Oregon’s growth; Utah’s Cape targets California imports. GatesNotes underscored: baseload from volcanoes beats battery backups.

Regulatory hurdles loom—USGS monitors volcanics—but successes like Utah FORGE pave paths. As one X engineer noted, ‘we drilled an absolute banger.’

Global Scalability Horizon

EGS unlocks 8,500 GW in the U.S. alone, per DOE. Fervo expands to Indonesia; Oregon/Utah prove the model. The Post envisions ‘constant energy almost anywhere.’

Investors pile in: Breakthrough Energy Ventures backs Fervo. X buzz from John Raymond Hanger hailed DOE goals.

By 2030, superhot geothermal could eclipse early nuclear in new builds, transforming grids worldwide.