Why It Matters

Fervo Energy Co. is expanding its government affairs footprint at a delicate moment for geothermal energy policy. By hiring Thomas S. Erb, a former senior Democratic staffer with deep Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee connections, Fervo gains direct access to lawmakers actively drafting legislation on permitting timelines, lease sales, and tax credits.

The company’s lobbying targets emerging legislative priorities. Multiple bills under consideration—including the GEO Act, CLEAN Act, and Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act—address permitting delays that have historically slowed geothermal development. Fervo’s CEO testified before Congress in May 2025, establishing it as an industry thought leader lawmakers actively consult.

By the Numbers

Fervo Energy Co. has spent $1.55 million on lobbying across 30 disclosures from 2021 to 2025, working with Boundary Stone Partners LLC ($1.06 million) and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP ($490,000).

Fervo’s new in-house practice, registered February 2024, is led by Thomas S. Erb, who previously served as Senior Policy Adviser to Senator John Hickenlooper (D-CO). Fervo is his first registered lobbying client.

The Agenda

Fervo Energy Co. is lobbying on geothermal energy tax issues, energy permitting reform, electric transmission policy, and federal funding for geothermal energy.

Fervo has lobbied on multiple bills aimed at streamlining permitting for geothermal projects on federal lands—including the GEO Act, which would establish 60-day permit approval deadlines; the CLEAN Act, mandating annual geothermal lease sales; and the Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act.

The company is also engaged on Inflation Reduction Act implementation, particularly Investment and Production Tax Credits for geothermal facilities, and Department of Energy appropriations for geothermal demonstration projects.

Broader Context

Fervo’s lobbying expansion arrives amid unprecedented geothermal momentum. Meta signed a deal for advanced geothermal power in New Mexico, while Google reached an agreement in Nevada. Data center electricity demand is projected to double by 2030.

Enhanced geothermal systems now enable drilling deeper to access hot rock in previously unsuitable regions. The Department of Energy projects Eastern states could develop geothermal capacity, broadening political support.

Geothermal enjoys rare bipartisan backing. Energy Secretary Chris Wright previously invested in Fervo, and President Trump name-checked geothermal in his energy dominance executive order. The 2025 budget preserved geothermal tax credits while eliminating incentives for solar, wind, and electric vehicles.

Between The Lines

Congress is actively legislating on geothermal at an unusually rapid pace. The House Natural Resources Committee held a Utah field hearing in May 2025 where Fervo CEO Tim Latimer testified. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) toured Fervo’s Cape Station facility beforehand.

Support is notably bipartisan—Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID) and Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV) co-lead the CLEAN Act, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) champions the Cost-Recovery bill. The trade association Geothermal Rising Action recently registered as a lobbying entity.

Competitive Landscape

Fervo faces robust industry-wide lobbying activity. Geothermal Rising Action Inc., the sector’s trade association, recently registered as a lobbying entity pursuing similar issues. Ormat Technologies Inc. testified alongside Fervo’s CEO in May 2025.

Several emerging companies—XGS Energy, Quaise Energy, and Dandelion—hired lobbying firms for the first time in 2025, indicating intensifying competition for legislative influence. Baker Hughes is collaborating on a 500-megawatt California geothermal project, bringing substantial resources to the space.

The Bottom Line

Fervo’s in-house hire signals a maturing advocacy strategy during genuine legislative momentum for geothermal energy. Erb’s Senate Energy Committee background gives Fervo direct access to lawmakers drafting permitting reform. With Congress advancing multiple geothermal proposals and tech companies increasingly seeking geothermal power agreements, Fervo’s expanded presence positions it to influence legislative outcomes that will shape the sector’s growth trajectory.

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