Geothermal power to fuel at boom: CTR and Baker Hughes partner on 500 MW California project

IMPERIAL COUNTY – Two industry leaders are joining forces to harness geothermal energy from California’s Salton Sea region. Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) and energy technology company Baker Hughes have finalized agreements to develop a 500-megawatt (MW) geothermal power project in Imperial County, aiming to power the booming U.S. demand for data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.

Powering the Digital Economy

The project, located at CTR’s Hell’s Kitchen site, is a significant step toward providing a reliable, low-carbon energy source for industries that cannot tolerate power interruptions. Unlike intermittent renewables like solar and wind, geothermal energy provides baseload power—a consistent, 24/7 supply that is critical for the continuous operations of hyperscale data centers and AI. According to CTR CEO Rod Colwell, this project will deliver “baseload energy at scale” to meet the “surging” demands of America’s digital economy.

The collaboration leverages the unique strengths of both companies. CTR brings its development expertise to the Salton Sea, while Baker Hughes will provide advanced technologies for drilling, power systems, and digital field services. The company’s experience in high-temperature drilling, combined with its fully integrated approach from subsurface to surface, will be crucial to the project’s success. Baker Hughes’ Chief Growth & Experience Officer, Maria Claudia Borras, stated that the partnership will help “ensure geothermal is available at an industrial scale” to meet the energy demands of hyperscale operators.

Strengthening U.S. Energy Resilience

This world-scale project is expected to create thousands of American jobs and strengthen the nation’s energy resilience. Geothermal power runs at a capacity factor of over 98%, making it an ideal “behind-meter” power source that can accommodate on-site data center development.

California Governor Gavin Newsom praised the initiative, highlighting the state’s commitment to building more clean energy and creating jobs. He noted that the project advances a vision for “Lithium Valley,” where the Salton Sea region could become a global source of critical minerals while simultaneously powering a new economic boom.