The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources convened a legislative hearing to examine proposals aimed at improving the permitting and leasing process for geothermal energy projects. The session focused on several bills intended to streamline regulatory procedures and encourage development of geothermal resources on federal lands.
Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) addressed the importance of these efforts, stating, “America has vast geothermal resources that can provide reliable, baseload clean energy and create good-paying jobs that will power our 21st Century economy. Today’s hearing highlights the need to streamline our permitting system and break down the barriers that are unnecessarily holding back our great geothermal potential on federal lands. I’m proud to support these bills before the subcommittee today and look forward to the full committee's consideration and advancement of these bills.”
Among the legislation discussed was H.R. 301, known as the Geothermal Energy Opportunity (GEO) Act, which would require the Department of the Interior (DOI) to review all geothermal authorizations within 60 days. Another bill, H.R. 1687 or the Committing Leases for Energy Access Now (CLEAN) Act, proposes annual lease sales for geothermal energy by amending existing law and sets timelines for permit applications.
Other proposals included H.R. 5576, which seeks to exempt low-impact exploration projects from National Environmental Policy Act reviews and mandates DOI designation of priority leasing areas; H.R. 5587 clarifies NEPA exemptions for certain non-federal land operations; H.R. 5631 establishes a Geothermal Ombudsman within the Bureau of Land Management to facilitate dispute resolution and best practices; H.R. 5638 reforms royalty payments based on facility service time; H.R. 398 grants DOI authority over application fees; H.R. 1077 extends categorical exclusions from oil and gas activities to some geothermal projects; and H.R. 5617 requires BLM publication of best practices guidance.
These measures reflect ongoing congressional interest in expanding renewable energy production through improved administrative processes for geothermal development.
