Last week, it was reported that U.S.-based geothermal association Geothermal Rising has acquired the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association (CanGEA).

With the acquisition, CanGEA will be renamed to Geothermal Rising Canada. The transaction was supported by the Boards of both organizations, as well as the member companies of CanGEA.

Geothermal Rising Canada will carry on the pivotal work of CanGEA. “I’m most proud of how we provided opportunities to the next generation of energy workers, often in support of their goals to transition to green energy. We empowered dozens of youth and underrepresented groups via employment and mentorship at CanGEA,” stated former CanGEA Managing Director and Chair Alison Thompson.

CanGEA has successfully influenced and changed federal and provincial laws and regulations for nearly 2 decades. CanGEA has had a mission to empower the geothermal community and promote geothermal technology, same as Geothermal Rising. We are thrilled to announce that in 2025, CanGEA is becoming Geothermal Rising Canada!

“We are grateful for the dedication and impact CanGEA has made with remarkable support from volunteers, not least of which are the organization’s Board members: Alison Thompson, Brian Toohey, and Donovan Nielsen,” said Dr. Bryant Jones, Executive Director of GR. “With GR assuming control of Geothermal Rising Canada (formerly CanGEA), we can leverage resources to better and more loudly amplify the research conducted by governments, pilot projects carried out by universities, and new developments and technologies advanced by industry.”

The momentum is building for the geothermal industry in Canada. The federal and provincial governments are taking notice, the World Geothermal Congress will be held in Canada in 2026, and Canadian geothermal companies are making headlines in Canada and around the globe.

“Geothermal energy is gaining significant momentum worldwide, with over $47 billion invested in 2023 and supporting 140,000 jobs globally. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to unite efforts and foster collaboration across the entire geothermal value chain in both Canada and the United States to build on this momentum. I am thrilled about the tremendous opportunity to leverage the expertise, resources, and influence of Geothermal Rising to enhance and scale the impactful policy and regulatory work that CanGEA has championed for the past two decades in Canada,” said Jeanine Vany, GR Board member and Executive Vice President and co-founder of Eavor Technologies.

“Geothermal Rising has effectively enhanced the visibility of geothermal heat and power technologies across the United States. The collaboration between Geothermal Rising and CanGEA will enable this important work to extend into Canada,” stated Emily Smejkal, a Science Fellow at the Cascade Institute and Board member of Geothermal Canada. “Although Canada’s geothermal resources are well-documented scientifically, their utilization has been limited. Geothermal Rising’s expertise in promoting geothermal energy in the United States will be invaluable in developing a robust industry in Canada. The establishment of Geothermal Rising Canada marks an exciting advancement for the geothermal sector.”

Through this merger, Geothermal Rising will organize knowledge sharing opportunities in Canada, empower Indigenous voices through the Indigenous Geothermal Symposium, expand the Regional Interest Group (RIG) initiative, familiarize external audiences about geothermal energy (such as the media, investors, and policymakers), and support the work of the International Geothermal Association and Geothermal Canada to host a successful WGC 2026 in Calgary!

“Geothermal energy development is a North American opportunity. It makes a lot of sense to have one body, Geothermal Rising, as the voice to represent an industry looking to grow its footprint,” said Lisa Mueller, GR Board member-elect, and CEO of FutEra Energy, the first geothermal developer in Canada to have electrons on the grid.