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While the subsurface has historically been the site of extraction, the energy transition is rethinking the uses of the subsurface, including deep geothermal energy. Geothermal energy is being developed in new areas, at the same time as changing its technical characteristics. This deployment is accompanied by technoscientific promises, supported by public funding. It is also being accompanied by “alliances” with other industries, such as lithium and oil. However, this deployment has not been without its problems— geothermal energy can cause earthquakes—leading to intense debate about the technical framework, and thereby politicizing the subsurface.