Planning commission approves Fervo Energy exploratory geothermal program across the 40‑Mile Desert

The Churchill County Planning Commission on Feb. 12 unanimously approved a special‑use permit allowing Fervo Energy (filed as 40 Mile Desert Resources LLC) to conduct phased geothermal exploration across an area of checkerboarded private and federal sections in the county's 40‑Mile Desert.

The vote follows a multihour presentation and public comment period during which company representatives described a two‑phase plan to build temporary well pads, drill directional paired wells that extend horizontally into hot rock, stimulate those zones, and test the resulting production for potential future power plants.

Dean Patterson, Public Works and Planning, told the commission the project differs from the county’s existing geothermal operations because it uses paired deep directional wells and stimulation to create flow paths in hot rock rather than relying on naturally permeable formations. “This method pairs drills paired wells a mile or so deep to hot rock formations, and then uses directional drilling to create horizontal well bores,” Patterson said. He described the project as exploratory and said any subsequent power‑plant permits would return to the county for separate review.

Fervo representatives said the initial permit request is limited to exploration. Paul Conrad, Fervo’s site permitting manager, said the firm expects to construct modular five‑acre pads, house crews temporarily in mobile units and drill multiple wells from a single pad to limit surface impacts. “We want to go in, build the pads, drill the wells, and quickly get to the testing phase to see if this area has the geothermal energy potential that we hope it has,” Conrad said.

The company said it will source drilling water from on‑site groundwater wells drilled for the project and will file for the standard temporary waivers with the Nevada State Engineer or use its leased water rights if required. Brandon Law, director of land, environmental and permitting for Fervo, said the firm will follow Nevada Division of Minerals requirements for casing, cementing and, at end of life, filling abandoned wells with concrete as required by state permit conditions.

Residents raised questions about potential impacts to domestic wells, noise, lights, traffic, the possibility of induced seismicity from stimulation, fencing and whether the project might later be used for mineral extraction. Public commenters included nearby landowners who asked for clearer maps, assurances about well abandonment and monitoring, and information about notification procedures for affected property owners.

Fervo said it will install a network of seismic monitors and use a “traffic‑light” protocol to pause stimulation if ground motion approaches pre‑set thresholds; the company cited similar monitoring at its Cape project in Utah. Patterson said staff and the county’s water consultant reviewed materials and did not identify an exploration‑phase water risk that would bar approval. The county also noted coordination with federal agencies will be required where roads cross public lands.

Commissioners framed approval around a lengthy set of conditions in the staff report intended to address access, road maintenance, security, water use, monitoring and interagency coordination. Commissioner Jeff Goings moved to approve the application; the motion passed unanimously.

The decision is an exploratory approval only; any power‑plant development would require additional, separate permits and environmental reviews. The planning commission set conditions that require legal proof of access, road maintenance agreements, water‑use compliance with the state engineer, monitoring and an agreed plan for emergency response and coordination with NAS Fallon and state agencies prior to operations.

The county’s staff report and the application materials describe the proposal in detail, including parcel lists, pad sizes and the sequence of drilling, stimulation and testing. Fervo representatives said their Cape project has advanced to the power‑plant construction stage and that the company is applying lessons from that project to minimize surface impacts and to speed drilling schedules.

Commissioners and staff emphasized the exploratory nature of the permit and the opportunity to revisit operations on the annual review schedule and through subsequent permits if production warrants future power plants.