This is a story that could have handled some editing. Just ignore the last section, which you've already read.

Drilling miles into the Earth to tap energy hot enough to melt lead usually breaks equipment before it breaks records.

Texas-based Mazama Energy has announced a drilling performance milestone at its Athena geothermal well in Newberry, Oregon. It is a key step toward commercializing superhot rock geothermal energy.

The energy company said its latest geothermal well, Athena, reached a depth of 10,350 feet in a swift 15 days. Interestingly, it is roughly an 80 percent reduction in drilling time compared to a landmark well drilled at the same site just last year.

The development will help move the clean energy sector a step closer to tapping “superhot rock.” These subsurface formations are hotter than 750°F (399°C)^[after you've already said "hotter than," you can round up to 400C] and hold enough energy to transform green grid economics.

“Our goal was to demonstrate that we could drill faster and be cost-effective as we move toward increasingly hotter and deeper conditions,” said Pat Brand, Project Athena Director and Mazama’s Drilling SME. “We still have work ahead as we drill toward 750+°F temperatures, but the performance we are already seeing gives us confidence.”