118 HR 10513 IH: Co-Location Energy Act U.S. House of Representatives 2024-12-19 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 118th CONGRESS2d Session H. R. 10513 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 19, 2024 Mr. Curtis (for himself and Mr. Levin) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to co-locate renewable energy projects on certain existing Federal leased areas, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Co-Location Energy Act.

2.

Co-location of renewable energy projects

(a)

Authorization To evaluate leased areas for renewable energy development

(1)

In general

In addition to the authority provided under section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)) and section 501(a)(4) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761(a)(4)), the Secretary of the Interior may authorize a person to evaluate an area of an existing Federal energy lease for solar or wind energy development. (2)

Consent of leaseholder

The Secretary of the Interior may not authorize a person to evaluate an area under paragraph (1) unless the applicable leaseholder consents to the authorization. (b)

Permits for renewable energy development on existing oil, gas, coal, and geothermal lease areas

(1)

In general

In addition to the authority provided under section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)) and section 501(a)(4) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761(a)(4)), the Secretary of the Interior may issue a permit to authorize a person to construct or operate systems or facilities for the production, transportation, storage, or transmission of energy from solar or wind resources on an area of an existing Federal energy lease. (2)

Consent of leaseholder

The Secretary of the Interior may not issue a permit for an activity under paragraph (1) unless the applicable leaseholder consents to the issuance of the permit. (c)

Categorical exclusions

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall determine whether any of the actions for which a permit may be issued under subsection (b)(1), or any actions that may be carried out pursuant to a lease granted under section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)) or section 501(a)(4) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761(a)(4)), are a category of actions that normally do not significantly affect the quality of the human environment within the meaning of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). (d)

Rulemaking

The Secretary of the Interior may issue a rule to carry out this section. (e)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Existing Federal energy lease

The term existing Federal energy lease means a lease— (A)of land managed by the Secretary of the Interior; and (B)issued, granted, or renewed before, on, or after the date of enactment of the Co-Location Energy Act under— (i)the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.); or (ii)the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.). (2)

Lease

The term lease includes an easement and right-of-way.