- Zanskar, a geothermal startup, purchased the failing Lightning Dock power plant in New Mexico in June 2024 and revived it by drilling a new, deeper well.
- The plant's water temperature had dropped from 310°F to 250°F due to older wells hitting only the top of the reservoir; new modeling identified a better site at 8,000 feet depth.
- Since May 2025, the new well has been flowing at over 4,000 gallons per minute, doubling the electricity output compared to the old wells (15 MW capacity, powering ~11,000 homes).
- The success challenges conventional geothermal wisdom that deeper wells reduce water flow; instead, flow increased in the new area, suggesting untapped potential for other sites.
- Zanskar plans further development at Lightning Dock, including upgrades to increase electricity output, and sees this as a model for the geothermal industry to explore deeper resources.