Current models show that we need to pull huge quantities of carbon out of the air. Right now, though, the tools for doing that are mostly being used for corporate greenwashing.

Biden is flirting with the idea of rejuvenating the industry to help decarbonize the economy—and there are skeptics in spades.

Geothermal power requires similar infrastructure and skills as fossil fuel extraction, which means laid-off oil workers could switch to greener work pretty easily.