GEOTHERMAL ACCELERATOR CONFERENCE, 9/9/2025

Pete_Accelerator(1)

On September 9, 2025, the Cascade Institute's Geothermal Energy Office convened leaders from industry, government, Indigenous organizations, and civil society in Ottawa for a Geothermal Accelerator Conference—a first-of-its-kind event designed to seize a once-in-a-generation opportunity: making Canada a global leader in geothermal power.  

Geothermal energy leverages drilling expertise from the oil and gas sector to convert heat from deep within the Earth into clean, secure, and affordable power and heat.   

At the close of the conference, participants announced the establishment of a Canadian Deep Geothermal Coalition to accelerate the development of geothermal energy in Canada. Nearly two dozen organizations and counting have signed the founding declaration. 

 

Conference agenda 

Welcome & Introductions: Thomas Homer-Dixon, Executive Director, Cascade Institute (CI)
Canada’s Geothermal Opportunity: Pete Massie, Director, CI - Geothermal Energy Office
Keynote: Terra Rogers, Program Director, Superhot Rock Energy, Clean Air Task Force
Panel 1: Canada’s Geothermal Landscape
Framing Remarks: Bryant Jones, Executive Director, Geothermal Rising
Panelists:
  • Richard Hawker, President, Meager Creek  Development Corporation
  • Ashley Drobot, Business Development  Manager, DEEP Earth Energy Production
  • Jeanine Vany, Executive Vice President, Eavor
  • Rochelle Longval, VP of Innovation, Hephae Energy Technology
  • Matt Bryan, President, SLB Canada
Keynote: James Carpenter, Alberta’s Senior Representative to Ottawa
Panel 2: Next Steps: Towards a Geothermal Innovation Ecosystem
Framing Remarks: Pete Massie, Director, Geothermal Energy Office
Panelists:
  • John McLennan, Lead Reservoir  Management, Utah FORGE
  • Jim Hinton, Founder, Own Innovation
  • Dan Philipson, Founder and Managing  Partner, Deep Energy Capital
  • Michael Gullo, VP, Policy, Business  Council of Canada
Wrap Up  and Next Steps: Thomas Homer-Dixon, Executive Director, Cascade Institute (CI)

About the Canadian Deep Geothermal Coalition 

The event concluded with the announcement of the Canadian Deep Geothermal Coalition.  Founding signatories represent a diverse alliance committed to realizing the promise of geothermal power and heat in Canada. The Canadian Deep Geothermal Coalition aims to create an ambitious industrial strategy that positions Canada to lead the world in deep geothermal technologies, generate sustainable economic growth, and deliver clean, reliable power and heat to communities across the country. 

 

Connect with Cascade Institute's Geothermal Energy Office

Interested in learning more? Peter Massie, Director of the Cascade Institute's Geothermal Energy Office is leading the charge to unlock Canada's vast geothermal potential.

Contact Peter Massie:  
Director, Geothermal Energy Office
Cascade Institute, Royal Roads University
E-mail: massie@cascadeinstitute.org

Related Research & Analysis

Groundwork: Regulatory guidelines for making Canada a geothermal powerhouse

Ultradeep Geothermal program

Emily Smejkal, Princess Sharlynne Cosalan, Stephanie Rose Cortinovis
A report identifying best practices to help Canadian provinces establish effective geothermal regulations and make Canada a global clean energy leader.
Read More
Abstract illustration of drilling

AOSTRA: A model for funding geothermal innovation

Ultradeep Geothermal program

Emily Smejkal, Peter Massie, Leighton Gall
A case study of the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA) as a model for kickstarting geothermal innovation.
Read More
Layers of a rock

Prospecting for Superhot Rock Energy

Rebecca Pearce et al.
A technology gap analysis for siting and characterizing superhot rock energy resources.
Read More
ultradeep geothermal web image

Ultradeep Geothermal Research and Action Roadmap

Leighton Gall, Dave Lovekin, Rebecca Pearce, Emily Smejkal
A roadmap outlining a plan to advance ultradeep geothermal power to commercial operation in Canada.
Read More
Geothermal Site

Deep Geothermal Superpower: Canada’s potential for a breakthrough in enhanced geothermal systems

Ian Graham, Ellen Quigley, Scott Janzwood, and Thomas Homer-Dixon
An opportunity analysis that makes the case that Canada can and should become the global leader in ultra-deep geothermal electricity production.
Read More

Related News & Views

Time to dig deep into a strategy for geothermal power

Peter Massie and Emily Smejkal

The Hill Times

Canada's opportunity to become a leader in geothermal power.

Read More
Sunlight streaming through a maple tree

IEA Future of Geothermal report: Cascade Institute reaction

Cascade Institute Ultradeep Geothermal program team
Recent technological innovations have dramatically expanded geothermal's potential as a significant contributor to global electricity generation. By 2050, experts project geothermal will emerge as the third-largest source of power growth in the global renewable energy landscape. (PDF).
Read More
Breaking New Ground - Geothermal in 2024

Breaking new ground: Geothermal in 2024

Peter Massie

Cascade Institute analysis

Technology breakthroughs have given geothermal a completely new value proposition.

Read More

Deep geothermal superpower: Positioning Canada for a breakthrough in next-generation geothermal systems

Ultradeep Geothermal program team

Cascade Institute announcement

The case for ultradeep geothermal energy and a strategic plan for Canada to capture this technological opportunity.

Read More

Canada needs to dig deep to become a world leader in geothermal technology

Rebecca Pearce and Ian Graham

The Globe and Mail

A worldwide race for next-generation geothermal technology has begun, and Canada can still emerge a leader.

Read More

A big bet on geothermal could help prevent a climate catastrophe

Thomas Homer-Dixon, Ian Graham, and Ellen Quigley

The Globe and Mail

A government-industry research and development partnership in ultradeep geothermal would be a “moonshot” project that Canadians could rally around.

Read More