On March 25–26, 2026, Darcy Solutions’ Director of Government Affairs & Strategic Partnerships, Zach Millimet, joined the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) in Washington, D.C. for the association’s 2026 Smart Water Policies Fly-In — two days of policy briefings and direct meetings with Congressional offices to advance the issues that matter most to the groundwater industry.
Water well drillers are key partners for Darcy’s groundwater-enabled geothermal heating & cooling technology, and the policy issues NGWA brought to the Hill this year sit squarely at the intersection of what we do as a company: deliver energy-efficient and resilient heating & cooling, drive building decarbonization, protect and improve local water and air quality, and deploy geothermal solutions that strengthen critical infrastructure and support American jobs and economic vitality.
Over the two days, Darcy participated alongside NGWA or met individually with Rep. Cliff Bentz (OR-2) and staff for Sen. Tina Smith (MN), Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA), Sen. Ron Wyden (OR), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Rep. Jack Bergman (MI-1), and Rep. Michael Turner (OH-10).
The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in 2025 had three major consequences for the geothermal industry. First, it preserved the Section 48 Investment Tax Credit for geothermal, with a construction-start deadline extended through 2035 — the longest runway of any clean energy technology in the bill. Second, it resolved a longstanding loophole that had effectively blocked third-party ownership of geothermal systems from accessing the ITC, unlocking new financing structures that can significantly expand deployment in commercial and institutional markets. Third, and most significantly for the water well and residential geothermal industries, it eliminated the Section 25D residential tax credit — a real setback for contractors and the families they serve.
There is bipartisan consensus on Capitol Hill that America needs geothermal energy — for power generation, heating & cooling, and direct use. With that in mind, Darcy and NGWA brought three clear requests to every office:
Among the most substantive conversations Darcy and NGWA had on Capitol Hill — in every office — was about data centers. In advance of the Fly-In, NGWA released a formal position paper on data center development and the responsible use of groundwater resources. Darcy was proud to bring that paper into every meeting and to go a step further: making the affirmative case for geothermal heating & cooling as a practical solution to what is becoming an increasingly fraught community challenge.
The problem is real and growing. Data centers consume enormous quantities of groundwater for cooling, and as they multiply and concentrate in regions across the country, the cumulative strain on aquifers is becoming a serious resource management concern. Communities are pushing back — not just over water withdrawals, but over surging electricity prices, noise from conventional cooling towers, and the broader environmental footprint of large-scale data center development. For many communities, it feels like an intractable tradeoff: economic development on one side, quality of life and resource protection on the other.
Geothermal doesn’t resolve every tension, but it meaningfully changes the math. Darcy’s groundwater-enabled heat exchanger sits in the aquifer in situ — no groundwater is extracted, no groundwater is consumed. That eliminates the need for cooling towers entirely, which in turn addresses two of the most common community objections: water use and noise. And because geothermal is significantly more efficient than conventional cooling systems, it reduces overall electricity demand and helps moderate the load growth pressures that are contributing to rising energy costs in data center corridors across the country.
NGWA’s position paper makes clear that these solutions are scalable, shovel-ready, and directly supported by existing commercial geothermal tax credits. Darcy’s message to Congressional offices was equally direct: the technology exists, the economics work, and the industry is ready to deploy it.
Beyond geothermal, Darcy stood alongside NGWA colleagues in advocating for a broader set of groundwater policy priorities that are deeply interconnected with the work Darcy does every day.
Protecting funding for the USGS National Ground-Water Monitoring Network was a priority across every meeting. Groundwater supplies roughly 40% of the nation’s drinking water, yet monitoring funding continues to decline — and the data gaps that result are becoming increasingly consequential as demand from data centers, drought, and long-term supply pressures intensifies. You cannot sustainably manage what you cannot measure.
PFAS contamination, groundwater workforce development, and rural water infrastructure rounded out the agenda — issues that span the partisan divide and directly affect the communities and industries that depend on clean, reliable groundwater access. For Darcy, these aren’t peripheral concerns: they define the operating environments where our projects are being built.
Darcy Solutions is proud to be an active participant in NGWA’s advocacy work and grateful for the association’s leadership in keeping groundwater — and the industries that depend on it — in the policy conversation. We look forward to continued engagement with the offices we met with this week and to advancing the shared priorities of the groundwater and geothermal communities as the 119th Congress works through its energy and water agenda.
October 15, 2025
Darcy Solutions is thrilled to be named on Cleantech Group’s prestigious 2025 Cleantech 50 to Watch list. The list spotlights the early-stage companies poised to deliver breakthrough solutions to the world’s most pressing climate and sustainability challenges.
Selected from hundreds of nominations worldwide, the 50 companies represent the most compelling innovators at the intersection of technology, business, and impact.
This year’s Cleantech 50 to Watch emerges against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Global tariffs, policy reversals, and development bottlenecks continue to reshape project timelines and investment flows. Yet, even amid these headwinds, a new generation of entrepreneurs is redefining what is possible—accelerating advances in clean energy, sustainable materials, food and agriculture, and digital-enabled climate solutions.
“As we’ve seen throughout 2025, innovation doesn’t stand still,” said Anthony DeOrsey, Research Manager at Cleantech Group. “These 50 companies represent where the market is heading next: increasing sophistication of AI, new frontiers in resource resilience, and breakthrough solutions in consumer goods sustainability. Their work shows us not just what’s possible, but what’s urgently needed.”
“Being named to the Cleantech 50 To Watch list is an amazing validation of the groundbreaking work our team at Darcy Solutions is doing to deploy geothermal systems globally,” said Andrew Steiner, CEO at Darcy Solutions. “Our focus has always been to make high-performance, sustainable heating and cooling the standard expectation for commercial HVAC systems. This recognition from the Cleantech Group highlights that delivering high-capacity geothermal systems in limited footprints is exactly the kind of disruptive technology needed to accelerate the global transition to a decarbonized built environment.”
At the beginning of the year, Cleantech Group introduced a “Grow, Flow, Slow” framework to identify which technologies are likely to accelerate, advance steadily, or encounter significant headwinds. Updated throughout the year, the framework continues to highlight the dynamic forces shaping cleantech markets.
Within this landscape:
Energy-Efficient Compute – The Next Frontier
More companies than ever are innovating across the compute efficiency value chain, from novel semiconductors to rack-level power management. Notable examples include:
AI as a Climate Enabler
Artificial intelligence is driving innovation not only in software but also in physical systems and deep tech. Companies like Entalpic, Juna AI, and Beyond Weather are showcasing AI’s transformative potential across industries.
Crop Science for Resilience
With agriculture increasingly threatened by climate volatility, innovators are turning to bio-based and nanotechnology-driven solutions. Companies such as IMIO, NetZeroNitrogen, Silvec Biologics, and Qarbotech are advancing treatments that improve yields while reducing environmental impact.
Consumer Goods Sustainability
For the first time, consumer goods cleantech has a strong foothold in the Cleantech 50 to Watch. Eight companies—including re.solution, Syntetica, Radical Dot, and Sengong—are pioneering advanced recycling and novel materials to address textiles, plastics, and waste streams long considered unrecyclable.
The Importance of Ecosystems
The 2025 Cleantech 50 to Watch also highlights the role of innovation ecosystems in supporting early-stage growth. Regional accelerators, public agencies, and venture platforms—including SGInnovate (Singapore), Innovate UK, and Greentown Labs (Massachusetts)—are playing a critical role in helping start-ups access markets, partners, and capital.
Looking Ahead
This year’s honorees reflect the cleantech sector’s resilience and ingenuity in the face of global uncertainty. From AI-driven breakthroughs to novel approaches in recycling and agriculture, the Cleantech 50 to Watch demonstrates that innovation continues to push boundaries, even in turbulent times.
“We congratulate all 50 companies recognized this year,” said DeOrsey. “Their progress shows that the path to a low-carbon, resource-efficient future is not only alive but accelerating in unexpected and exciting ways.”
Download your complimentary copy of the 2025 Cleantech 50 to Watch list and supplementary report here.
We are thrilled to announce that our very own Maddie Dickenscheidt has been recognized for her contributions to the sustainable energy sector. Maddie was recently featured in the 2025 Clean Jobs Midwest Report as one of Minnesota’s highlighted clean energy professionals.
This recognition shines a spotlight on the dedication and expertise Maddie brings to the Darcy Solutions team, as well as the vital work being done on the ground to advance green technology.
Highlighting Minnesota’s Growth
The feature appears within the 2025 Clean Jobs Midwest – Minnesota Report, a comprehensive publication produced by Clean Energy Economy Minnesota (CEEM), of which Darcy Solutions is a proud member.
The report underscores a thriving industry. According to the new data, Minnesota’s clean energy sector is leading the way in innovation and economic opportunity. Key takeaways from the 2025 report include:
Maddie’s feature serves as a testament to the individual hard work behind these impressive statistics. We are incredibly proud to see her represent Darcy Solutions and the wider Minnesota clean energy workforce.
You can read the full report, see Maddie’s feature, and explore other clean energy worker features at the links below:
