In this May 2026 Statewide Call, Woody Hastings explores how technologies developed for the oil and gas industry are being reapplied to geothermal energy development — and what that means for communities, workers, and the future of distributed energy in California.
Advanced geothermal comes with real risks and challenges, but it also opens significant opportunities for clean, firm 24/7/365 power that is far more geographically flexible and scalable than conventional geothermal. Woody examines how this emerging technology fits into a broader suite of equitably deployed distributed energy resources, what community benefits it can deliver, and how it could provide a high-road transition pathway for former oil and gas workers.
About the Speaker Woody Hastings is an energy and environmental policy analyst, strategic planner, and community organizer with over thirty years of experience across the nonprofit, governmental, and private sectors. His work sits at the intersection of clean energy policy, community equity, and workforce transition.
A recording of this presentation will be available here. You can access all CACE videos at our YouTube channel, here.