It is, indeed, hard to keep up with the latest, greatest disappointment-in-the-making from the unicorn power policy factory. So suddenly, in the smouldering wake of the COP29 crash, we get an email from Heatmap Daily saying “Everybody loves geothermal”. And suddenly everyone does. After all, if you’re going to throw other peoples’ money down a hole, it might as well be a deep one.

Sure enough, Natural Resources Canada lurched onto the bandwagon with “The Government of Canada Invests in Geothermal Energy in Northern Canada”. And we say lurches because after a self-congratulatory DEI-bingo “The Government of Canada is committed to working in partnership with Indigenous communities to support the clean energy transition” they tell us

“Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories, announced over $2 million in funding through the Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) program to support ADK Holdings Ltd.’s Geothermal Energy Development project. The project, held by Acho Dene Koe First Nation’s economic development corporation, will: Engage the community of Echaot’l Koe (Fort Liard) and support Acho Dene Koe First Nation in determining the best strategies for developing the geothermal resources of the First Nation’s traditional territory in the Northwest Territories.”

Engage and support them in determining the best strategies for developing a resource allegedly hidden in the back of beyond. Oh yeah. That’s going to power a major G7 economy. Especially as Acho Dene Koe is a community of 648 people, many not resident there, centred on Fort Laird in the chilly NWT, just 487 kilometres along highway 7 from the dim lights of Fort Providence with its 618 people. So clearly massive export opportunities involving heat pouring from Arctic rocks loom… or at least massive consulting opportunities.

Meanwhile in Alberta, whose bright lights of Zama City are just 803 km by road from Fort Laird, the provincial government that is fighting the Canadian federal one tooth-and-nail over its climate change policies while stridently endorsing its goals, flings $50 million in free money, aka its’ citizens’ hard-earned cash, down a hole literally, “to establish drilling centre for geothermal, helium companies”. Uh Premiere Smith, if it’s such a good deal, why can’t they spend their own money? And if it’s not, why are you spending ours?

Ah but see synergy is a substitute for energy:

“Alberta is hoping to attract geothermal, critical mineral, helium and carbon-capture companies to the province through a major new drilling hub.”

And who doesn’t love a subsidized hub? Other than companies that make money selling desirable products to willing customers, that is.

According to the Heatmap story to which that email pointed, “Geothermal Could Be the Big Winner of This Election Cycle”. Unless it’s not, since it adds “Democrats and Republicans both love it. But will they find the money for it?”

Not to spoil the mood. But we do have to add “And if they do, will it become a reliable energy source or just one more sinkhole for public cash?” Because so far these trendy alternative energy sources have been much better at absorbing megabucks than at emitting megawatts.