Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) have the potential to greatly increase the use of geothermal energy in the United States and worldwide. The US Department of Energy has recognized that outreach and communications with stakeholders and the general public are key elements to realizing this potential, and therefore emphasizes this activity in its FORGE initiative. This paper presents the activities, challenges and successes associated with conveying complex scientific and engineering information to stakeholders and the public about the Fallon FORGE project, which is located near the City of Fallon in Churchill County, Nevada. As part of a plan developed in Phase 1 of the project, the Fallon FORGE team developed a tiered approach to outreach that relies on local officials and civic leaders to identify additional stakeholders. With this guidance from our primary target audiences, we received positive feedback from nearly all parties we contacted or met with during the course of our outreach. Buoyed by the significant support for geothermal energy in the State of Nevada (from ordinary citizens, business leaders, local and State officials, and the Nevada congressional delegation), the Fallon FORGE team made a deliberate decision to communicate simply and honestly about complex technical subjects and potentially thorny issues such as water use and induced seismicity. The fact that our participation in local events engendered genuine interest was not only immensely gratifying, but showed that it can be possible to develop EGS in populated areas if communications and outreach clearly demonstrate local support, whether out of economic interest, a desire to be part of a project that develops new technology, support for clean energy, or some combination of these elements. From the outreach and communications activities conducted to date, we conclude that politicians, local government officials, civic leaders and the public at large – at least in the Fallon area - are genuinely interested in geothermal development, including projects that aim to develop leading-edge technology, as is intended for FORGE. With respect to the Fallon FORGE project specifically, the local community is welcoming the project for reasons that both include and transcend the local benefits that would accrue from the project. We are grateful for this support, and have developed a deeper appreciation of why public acceptance is so important for the widespread development of EGS.

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