Why It Matters

EQT Corp. filed its quarter two 2026 lobbying disclosure on July 13, reporting $380,000 in lobbying expenses, double the $190,000 it reported for quarter one 2026. The filing was handled entirely in-house, with Courtney Loper, EQT's Government Relations and Public Affairs Head, listed as the sole registered lobbyist. Disclosed issues include U.S. LNG exports, permitting reform for natural gas infrastructure, natural gas production policy, and provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

By The Numbers

EQT's in-house lobbying spending has climbed steadily over the past year. The company reported $110,000 for quarter two 2025, which fell to $50,000 in quarter three 2025, then rose to $60,000 in quarter four 2025 and $190,000 in quarter one 2026 before reaching the current $380,000 figure. Across those five filings, EQT has reported $790,000 in total in-house lobbying income over the past year. EQT also retained Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP for external lobbying in quarter two 2025, which reported $50,000 in income covering Section 45V clean hydrogen tax credit issues and other clean energy tax matters across four registered lobbyists.

Broader Context

EQT's disclosed issues track closely with a broader push in Congress on permitting reform. The House passed the SPEED Act in December 2025 and the PERMIT Act that same month, both aimed at streamlining federal environmental review for energy and water infrastructure projects; both bills are now before the Senate. EQT began listing the two bills among its specific lobbying issues starting with its quarter four 2025 filing.

The company's public messaging has echoed that priority. In March, EQT Corporation President and CEO Toby Rice, who also serves on the board of the National Association of Manufacturers, told Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) that ending permitting gridlock, not scaling back LNG export growth, is what would lower electricity prices for consumers.

Bottom Line

EQT's quarter two 2026 spending marks its highest quarterly lobbying total in at least a year, coinciding with active Senate consideration of the permitting bills the company has specifically flagged in its recent filings.

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