Our Story

Years in the Making.
Finally Here.

Geothermal Insider launched on March 9, 2026 — but this project started long before that date.

How It Started

We've Been Thinking About This For Years

Geothermal energy is one of those things that, once you understand it, you can't stop thinking about it. It heats your home in winter and cools it in summer. It runs off the quiet, constant warmth of the earth itself. It doesn't burn anything. It barely makes a sound. And most homeowners have never heard of it.

That gap — between how remarkable geothermal is and how little most people know about it — is exactly why we built this site.

For years, our team has been watching geothermal from different vantage points. Chuck has spent over two decades in construction, watching the industry evolve and seeing firsthand how homeowners get lost trying to make sense of heating and cooling upgrades. Jake has been drilling ground loops for 12 years across the Mountain West — clay, rock, shale, all of it — and has had more "why doesn't anyone write about this properly?" moments than he can count. Sarah spent nearly a decade designing HVAC systems before crossing over to energy writing, and Marcus has helped hundreds of Pacific Northwest homeowners navigate exactly the kind of decision that geothermal represents: a big upfront investment with a long tail of payoff.

For a long time, we talked about building the resource we wished existed. A place with real numbers, real state-by-state detail, real comparisons — not fluff, not vague "geothermal might be right for you!" content, but the actual information you need to make a decision.

"There's no shortage of solar websites, no shortage of EV resources, no shortage of places to get smart about basically any other clean energy technology. Geothermal has been left behind in the content world — and it's actually the most interesting one." — Chuck Kile, Founder

We spent months in preparation before a single page went live. Researching the landscape. Mapping out content gaps. Building the architecture of a site that could actually serve as a long-term resource, not just a batch of articles thrown together. Elena dug deep into policy and incentive programs, cataloging what each state was actually offering. Marcus built out the framework for our cost comparison content. Jake wrote detailed technical notes from the field that became the backbone of our how-it-works guides.

On March 9, 2026, we finally hit publish.

We're not finished — not even close. We have 45 more state guides to write, a savings calculator to build, a video library to grow. But the foundation is solid, and we're genuinely proud of what's already here.

What We're Building

The #1 Authority on Geothermal Energy

Geothermal is at an inflection point. Data centers need efficient cooling. Homeowners are looking at $400/month heating bills and asking what the alternative is. Federal and state incentives are expanding. The technology has never been more accessible.

We're building the resource that helps people navigate all of it — with real data, cited sources, and content written by people who actually know this industry.

🔬

Research First

Every article starts with primary sources — DOE reports, EIA data, state energy office documents, peer-reviewed studies. We cite what we use.

🤝

Real-World Perspective

Our team includes working installers, energy consultants, and construction veterans. The field experience shows up in the writing.

🗺️

State-Level Detail

Incentives, permitting, geology, utility rates — geothermal decisions are deeply local. We build resources that reflect that reality.

📊

Honest Numbers

We don't hide the cost. Geothermal is expensive upfront. We show you the real math — installation, savings, payback, tax credits — and let you decide.

The Team

People Who Live This Stuff

We're not generalist writers who picked geothermal as a niche. This is what we know.

CK

Chuck Kile

Founder & Editor-in-Chief · Coeur d'Alene, ID

Chuck has 20+ years of construction industry experience and hosts the Chuck the Contractor YouTube channel. He started Geothermal Insider because he got tired of watching homeowners make expensive heating and cooling decisions without access to the kind of information that actually helps. He oversees editorial direction and contributes pieces drawing on decades of hands-on industry knowledge.

SC

Sarah Chen

Senior Technical Writer · Denver, CO

Former mechanical engineer with 8 years designing HVAC systems before crossing over to energy journalism. Sarah brings technical depth that's rare in this space — she understands the thermodynamics, not just the marketing copy. She covers how-it-works content and professional resources.

MR

Marcus Rivera

Consumer Energy Editor · Portland, OR

A decade in real estate, then energy consulting — Marcus has helped hundreds of Pacific Northwest homeowners think through major energy upgrades. He writes for the person who wants to know: what does this actually cost, and is it worth it? He covers cost comparisons and state guides.

EV

Elena Voss

Industry & Policy Reporter · Washington, D.C.

Five years at a national environmental nonprofit before going independent. Elena tracks the legislation, utility programs, and incentive structures that shape the geothermal market. Her reporting is sharp, well-sourced, and occasionally a little wonky — in the best way.

JT

Jake Thornton

Field Contributor · Boise, ID

Licensed geothermal installer with 12 years in the trade. Jake has drilled loops in clay, granite, sandstone, and everything in between across the Mountain West. He writes about the stuff you only know from doing the work — straight, no-BS, practitioner-grade detail.

Get Into It

Start With the Basics

New to geothermal? Our complete guide to how geothermal heat pumps work is the best place to start — written for real people, not HVAC engineers.

How It Works → Free to read · No sign-up required