[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H3760-H3765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY ADVANCEMENT ACT
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5631) to appoint a Geothermal Ombudsman and establish a
Geothermal Permitting Task Force from within the Bureau of Land
Management, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5631
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Geothermal Energy
Advancement Act''.
SEC. 2. EFFECT OF PENDING CIVIL ACTIONS ON PROCESSING
APPLICATIONS RELATED TO GEOTHERMAL LEASING.
Section 4 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C.
1003) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(h) Effect of Pending Civil Actions on Processing
Applications Related to Geothermal Leasing.--
``(1) Requirement to process applications.--Notwithstanding
the existence of any pending civil action that affects an
application for a geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice,
notice to proceed, right-of-way, or any other authorization
under a valid existing geothermal lease, the Secretary shall,
unless a United States Federal court vacates or provides
injunctive relief for the applicable geothermal lease,
geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed,
right-of-way, or other authorization, approve and issue, or
deny, each such application not later than 60 days after
completing all requirements under applicable Federal laws and
regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and division A
of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code.
``(2) No new authority for federal courts.--Nothing in this
subsection shall be construed as modifying any existing
authority of a Federal court to vacate or provide injunctive
relief for a geothermal lease, geothermal drilling permit,
sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or other
authorization.
``(3) Definition of authorization.--In this subsection, the
term `authorization' means any license, permit, approval,
finding, determination, or other administrative decision
issued by a Federal agency, or any interagency consultation,
that is required or authorized under Federal law or
regulations in order to site, construct, reconstruct, or
commence operations of a geothermal project administered by a
Federal agency.''.
SEC. 3. COST RECOVERY FROM GEOTHERMAL LEASING, PERMITTING,
AND INSPECTIONS.
Section 6 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C.
1005) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(j) Cost Recovery.--
``(1) In general.--During the period that begins on the
date of enactment of this subsection and ends September 30,
2033, the Secretary may require an applicant for, or a holder
of, a geothermal lease to reimburse the United States for all
reasonable administrative and other costs incurred by the
United States from--
``(A) processing the application for the geothermal lease,
including any application for an operations plan, geothermal
drilling permit, utilization plan, site license, facility
construction permit, commercial use permit, and any other
approval associated with a geothermal lease; and
``(B) inspecting and monitoring--
``(i) geophysical exploration activities;
``(ii) the drilling, plugging, and abandonment of wells;
and
``(iii) the construction, operation, termination, and
reclamation of any well site or facility for the utilization
of geothermal resources pursuant to the geothermal lease.
``(2) Considerations.--In determining whether to require
reimbursement under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall
consider whether there is in existence a cooperative cost
share agreement between the United States and the holder of a
geothermal lease.
``(3) Adjustments.--The Secretary may reduce the amount to
be reimbursed under paragraph (1) if the Secretary
determines--
``(A) that full reimbursement would impose an economic
hardship on the applicant; or
``(B) that a less than full reimbursement is necessary to
promote the greatest use of geothermal resources.
``(4) Use.--The amounts reimbursed under this subsection
shall be credited to the currently applicable appropriation,
account, or fund of the Department of the Interior as
discretionary offsetting collections, and shall be available
only to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts
for--
``(A) processing the application for geothermal leases,
including any application for operations plans, geothermal
drilling permits, utilization plans, site licenses, facility
construction permits, commercial use permits, and any other
approval associated with geothermal leases; and
``(B) inspecting and monitoring--
``(i) geophysical exploration activities;
``(ii) the drilling, plugging, and abandonment of wells;
and
``(iii) the construction, operation, termination, and
reclamation of any well site or facility for the utilization
of geothermal resources pursuant to geothermal leases.''.
SEC. 4. REPORT.
(a) Report.--Not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, in
consultation with the geothermal industry and other
stakeholders, shall submit to the Committee on Natural
Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, and make
publicly available on the website of the Department of the
Interior, a report that includes--
(1) an assessment of how the amendments made by section 3
of this Act affected the Bureau of Land Management's
geothermal program;
(2) any recommendations for reauthorization of section 6(j)
of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, as added by this Act;
and
(3) any other recommendations for updates to such section
and the Bureau of Land Management's geothermal program.
(b) Considerations.--In developing the report required in
subsection (a), the Secretary of the Interior shall solicit
facts or information from the geothermal industry and other
stakeholders.
SEC. 5. PUBLICATION OF ``GOLD BOOK'' FOR GEOTHERMAL
OPERATIONS ON FEDERAL LANDS.
(a) Identification.--Not later than one year after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, in
consultation with other relevant Federal agencies, shall
identify standard procedures and guidelines for efficient and
environmentally responsible geothermal leasing and permitting
to the extent such standard procedures and guidelines are not
addressed in the fourth edition of the Bureau of Land
Management's ``Surface Operating Standards and Guidelines for
Oil and Gas Exploration and Development'', commonly known as
the ``Gold Book'' and last revised in 2007.
(b) Publication.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 270 days after identifying
standard procedures and guidelines under subsection (a), the
Secretary of the Interior shall publish an updated version of
the Gold Book incorporating any changes necessary to support
efficient and environmentally responsible geothermal leasing
and permitting for use by the field offices of the Bureau of
Land Management and geothermal operators.
(2) Renaming gold book.--The Secretary of the Interior
shall rename the Gold Book to reflect the incorporation of
standard procedures and guidelines related to geothermal
development.
(c) Consultation.--Before publishing an updated version of
the Gold Book, the Secretary of the Interior shall consult
with--
(1) other relevant Federal agencies, including field
offices of the Bureau of Land Management; and
(2) outside stakeholders, including developers and other
experts.
(d) Inclusions.--Each updated version of the Gold Book
shall include standard procedures and guidelines for ensuring
the efficient review and approval of environmentally
responsible geothermal development, including--
(1) exploration and geophysical operations;
(2) permitting lease operations;
(3) compliance with all applicable laws and regulations;
(4) construction and maintenance; and
(5) drilling, production, and utilization operations.
(e) Periodic Revision.--The Secretary of the Interior
shall--
(1) at least once every five years, review the most recent
version of the Gold Book; and
(2) if determined necessary by the Secretary of the
Interior to support efficient and environmentally responsible
geothermal leasing and permitting, publish an updated version
of the Gold Book.
SEC. 6. GEOTHERMAL OMBUDSMAN AND PERMITTING TASK FORCE.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Geothermal authorization.--The term ``geothermal
authorization'' means any license, permit, approval, finding,
determination, or other administrative decision issued by the
Bureau of Land Management and any interagency consultation
that is required or authorized under Federal law in order to
site, construct, reconstruct, or commence operations of a
geothermal energy project administered by the Bureau of Land
Management.
(2) Geothermal energy project.--The term ``geothermal
energy project'' means a
[[Page H3761]]
project wholly or partially located on public land that uses
geothermal energy to generate heat or electricity.
(3) Public land.--The term ``public land'' means lands
subject to geothermal leasing under section 3 of the
Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1002).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(5) Task force.--The term ``Task Force'' means the
Geothermal Permitting Task Force established under subsection
(c).
(b) Geothermal Ombudsman.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall appoint from
within the Bureau of Land Management a Geothermal Ombudsman.
(2) Duties.--The Geothermal Ombudsman appointed under
paragraph (1) shall--
(A) act as a liaison between--
(i) the individual field, district, and State offices of
the Bureau of Land Management;
(ii) the Division Chief of the National Renewable Energy
Coordination Office of the Bureau of Land Management; and
(iii) the Director of the Bureau of Land Management;
(B) provide dispute resolution services between the
individual field, district, and State offices of the Bureau
of Land Management and applicants for geothermal
authorizations;
(C) monitor and facilitate permit processing practices and
timelines across individual field offices of the Bureau of
Land Management;
(D) develop best practices for the permitting and leasing
process for geothermal resources; and
(E) coordinate with the Federal Permitting Improvement
Steering Council.
(c) Geothermal Permitting Task Force.--
(1) Establishment.--Not later than 60 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish
within the Bureau of Land Management a Geothermal Permitting
Task Force.
(2) Leadership.--The Task Force shall be headed by the
Geothermal Ombudsman appointed under subsection (b).
(3) Permitting support.--The Task Force shall support the
duties of the Geothermal Ombudsman appointed under subsection
(b).
(4) Cross-office personnel assignments.--
(A) In general.--In their capacity as head of the Task
Force, the Geothermal Ombudsman may coordinate with any
Departmental bureau or office to assign personnel with
relevant expertise to assist with completion of geothermal
authorizations in field, district, or State offices other
than the official duty station where such personnel are
located if--
(i) the Departmental bureau or office determines that such
assignment will not materially delay ongoing completion of
authorizations within the office where the employee is
located; and
(ii) approval is received from the head of the official
duty station where the assigned employee is located.
(B) Assigned personnel requirements.--Department personnel
assigned to assist with completion of geothermal
authorizations under subparagraph (A) shall--
(i) work in-person full-time at an official Department
office;
(ii) if necessary as determined by the Geothermal
Ombudsman, travel to the Bureau of Land Management field,
district, or State office with jurisdiction over the
geothermal authorization to which the employee has been
assigned by the Geothermal Ombudsman;
(iii) participate as part of the team of personnel working
on geothermal authorizations to which the employee has been
assigned by the Geothermal Ombudsman; and
(iv) regularly report to the head of the field, district,
or State office of the Bureau of Land Management with
jurisdiction over geothermal authorizations to which the
employee has been assigned by the Geothermal Ombudsman.
(C) Retention allowances.--
(i) In general.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Geothermal Ombudsman may pay a retention
allowance to an employee assigned to assist with the
completion of geothermal authorizations under subparagraph
(A). Retention allowances--
(I) shall be stated as the percentage of the rate of basic
pay of an employee, and may not exceed 25 percent of such
rate of basic pay;
(II) may not be considered to be part of the basic pay of
an employee, and the reduction or elimination of a retention
allowance may not be appealed; and
(III) shall be paid at the same time and in the same manner
as the employee's basic pay is paid.
(ii) Considerations.--In exercising the retention allowance
authority described in clause (i), the Geothermal Ombudsman
shall consider--
(I) an employee's specialized expertise related to
geothermal authorizations;
(II) the demonstrated need to retain an employee to meet
the performance improvement objectives for geothermal
authorization timelines and develop best practices for
completion of geothermal authorizations; and
(III) the difficulty in recruiting or replacing qualified
personnel with relevant expertise related to geothermal
authorizations.
(D) Savings clause.--Cross-office personnel assignments
carried out under this paragraph shall not alter the
underlying jurisdiction of other offices of the Bureau of
Land Management over applicable geothermal authorizations.
(d) Report.--The Geothermal Ombudsman shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives an annual report that describes the
activities of the Task Force and evaluates the effectiveness
of geothermal permit processing during the preceding 1-year
period.
SEC. 7. GEOTHERMAL ROYALTIES.
(a) Definitions.--Section 2 of the Geothermal Steam Act of
1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(h) `Geothermal electric generating facility' means a
facility, including all necessary equipment or structures
(including turbines and cooling equipment), that produces
electricity using geothermal resources. For purposes of
section 5(a)(1), a facility described in the preceding
sentence shall be considered a separate facility from any
other such facility unless the facility shares a turbine with
any other such facility.
``(i) `In-service date' means, with respect to a geothermal
electric generating facility, the date on which the
geothermal electric generating facility begins operating.''.
(b) Geothermal Royalties.--Section 5(a)(1) of the
Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1004(a)(1)) is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) by inserting ``with respect to a geothermal electric
generating facility producing electricity from such
resources,'' before ``not less than'';
(B) by inserting ``by the geothermal electric generating
facility'' after ``produced''; and
(C) by striking ``the first 10 years of production under
the lease'' and inserting ``each year of the 10-year period
following the in-service date of the geothermal electric
generating facility''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B)--
(A) by inserting ``with respect to a geothermal electric
generating facility producing electricity from such
resources,'' before ``not less than'';
(B) by inserting ``by the geothermal electric generating
facility'' after ``produced''; and
(C) by striking ``such 10-year period'' and inserting ``the
period of 10 years described in subparagraph (A)''.
SEC. 8. NEPA REVIEW.
Section 390 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
15942) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``, or the Geothermal
Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) for the purpose of
exploration or development of geothermal resources'' after
``or gas''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or gas'' and inserting
``, gas, or geothermal''; and
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``or gas'' and inserting
``, gas, or geothermal''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms.
Stansbury) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
General Leave
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to add
extraneous material on H.R. 5631, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5631, the
Geothermal Energy Advancement Act, sponsored by Representative Hurd.
The United States has an abundance of natural resources, and many of
these resources are found on Federal land throughout the country. There
is one resource in particular that is uniquely positioned to help meet
our growing energy demand in the Western United States, and that is
geothermal energy.
The first geothermal project on Bureau of Land Management lands was
approved in 1978. Since then, technological advancements and increased
data collection have given geothermal projects significant momentum,
and BLM lands have attracted strong interest from geothermal producers.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the Great Basin Region
alone holds about 135 gigawatts of next-generation geothermal
potential. That is enough to power roughly 100 to 135 million homes.
Today, there are 51 operating power plants producing geothermal
energy on BLM-managed public lands, with a combined installed capacity
of more than 2.6 gigawatts.
[[Page H3762]]
Unfortunately, cumbersome leasing and permitting practices on Federal
lands have prolonged project timelines and increased costs for
geothermal developers. This is why I am pleased to support the
Geothermal Energy Advancement Act.
This past December, during a legislative hearing, we heard from
multiple witnesses who stressed the importance of commonsense measures
that further exploration, provide timely lease sales, and enhance
geothermal expertise within Federal agencies. This legislation includes
provisions from six bipartisan bills that accomplish just that.
The Geothermal Ombudsman for National Deployment and Optimal Reviews
Act, introduced by Representative Hurd, will provide BLM with the
needed staffing flexibility by appointing a geothermal ombudsman from
within that agency who will coordinate among offices and assign expert
personnel from across the Department of the Interior to assist with
approvals as part of a newly formed Geothermal Permitting Task Force.
The Geothermal Gold Book Development Act, introduced by
Representative Ansari, directs DOI to identify and publish standard
procedures and guidelines in a Gold Book for efficient and
environmentally responsible geothermal leasing and permitting for use
by BLM field offices and geothermal operators.
The Geothermal Royalty Reform Act, introduced by Representative
Kennedy, provides a much-needed fix to the royalty system for
geothermal energy, ensuring fair cost distribution for new geothermal
facilities on Federal land.
The Streamlining Thermal Energy through Advanced Mechanisms Act, or
the STEAM Act, introduced by Representative Lee, extends categorical
exclusions available to oil and gas activities to geothermal
development.
The Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act, introduced by
Representative Ocasio-Cortez, would authorize the BLM to establish fees
for geothermal operators to offset permitting costs.
Lastly, the Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act, or the GEO Act,
introduced by Representative Maloy, requires the BLM to follow through
on its job of processing geothermal permits and authorizations unless a
Federal court directs it to do otherwise.
Together, these reforms will help to release the heat below our feet
and bolster American energy dominance.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in support of H.R.
5631, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5631, the Geothermal Energy
Advancement Act. This bipartisan package will deliver safe, clean, and
reliable energy for the American people, helping to lower energy prices
and meet growing electricity demand.
The bills in this package will let us make use of recent
breakthroughs in geothermal technology that unlock gigawatts of clean
domestic energy, helping get American families off of the fossil fuel
roller coaster.
I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working together
to speed up the build-out of next-generation geothermal without
sacrificing environmental or community protections.
These bills will help fund the experts needed to efficiently process
permits, establish a specialized problem-solving ombudsman to
coordinate and resolve permitting disputes, and to standardize best
practices across field offices.
They will extend a streamlined permitting pathway available to oil
and gas wells on already developed lands to geothermal development,
give the Department of the Interior a deadline to issue authorizations
after reviews are complete, and modify how royalties are collected to
incentivize new developments on one lease.
All of these are commonsense reforms that safely speed up the build-
out of clean, reliable energy, and I am proud to stand in support of
this timely, bipartisan package.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to hearing more from our bill's
cosponsors, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hurd), who is the lead sponsor of this
bill.
Mr. HURD of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R.
5631, the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act.
I begin by thanking my Republican colleagues Representatives Lee,
Maloy, and Kennedy and my Democratic colleagues Representatives Ansari
and Ocasio-Cortez for their partnership on this bipartisan legislation.
At a time when Americans are often told Congress cannot work together
across the aisle, this bill is proof that we still can.
Geothermal energy represents one of the most promising opportunities
in America's energy future.
When we talk about geothermal energy in this bill, we are not talking
about heating and cooling systems for individual buildings. We are
talking about large-scale electricity generation from the heat miles
beneath the Earth's surface, energy available around the clock and
dispatched when the grid needs it.
It is American energy. It is always available. It strengthens grid
reliability. It supplies reliable power for military installations,
advanced manufacturing, and critical infrastructure. It can help meet
growing energy demand without relying on foreign supply chains.
The good news is that the challenge facing geothermal energy today is
not a lack of resources. It is not a lack of innovation. It is not
technology. It is not lack of entrepreneurial spirit.
The challenge is process. It is red tape.
Geothermal projects can be complex and capital intensive. Now, this
legislation does not solve every challenge facing the industry, but it
addresses one of the challenges that Congress can solve: unnecessary
delay, fragmented permitting, and regulatory uncertainty.
When projects spend years navigating regulatory uncertainty, these
costs ultimately get built into the project. Greater certainty helps
attract investment, accelerate deployment, and bring promising projects
online more quickly.
Across the West, we have extraordinary geothermal potential, but
permitting remains fragmented, timelines are uncertain, and expertise
is often spread unevenly across the Federal Government.
{time} 1600
As a result, projects face delays that serve no one's interests.
This legislation takes a practical approach to solving those
problems. It improves coordination. It increases certainty. It
streamlines permitting. It helps ensure that expertise is available
where it is needed. It also provides the tools necessary to move worthy
projects through the process more efficiently while maintaining
responsible environmental stewardship. In short, this bill helps the
system work the way Congress intended it to work.
America has tremendous geothermal potential, but we have a deployment
problem. The good news, though, is we can solve it. If we are serious
about American energy security, American competitiveness, and American
innovation, we should remove unnecessary barriers that prevent us from
developing the resources that we already possess.
The future will require more electricity, more reliability, more
domestic energy production. Geothermal can help meet that challenge.
This legislation helps unlock that potential.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Westerman for his invaluable help on
this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5631.
Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to
the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Lee).
Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and my colleague
from Colorado for their leadership in this package.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a rare issue that is uniting
Americans from the right, the left, and the center: geothermal energy.
Particularly during a time when it too often can feel like Congress
can't agree on anything, today's package is a standout in the best way.
As the United States continues to face increasing energy demand here
at home and rising energy costs from abroad, fully harnessing our
domestic
[[Page H3763]]
geothermal resources is more important than ever.
My home State of Nevada has been a pioneer of both conventional and
next-generation geothermal energy, including as the site of the
country's first enhanced geothermal plant.
With exciting and ongoing developments in the geothermal technology,
the Department of Energy has estimated that America will be able to
affordably capture enough of our abundant geothermal resources
nationwide to power more than 65 million homes over the next 25 years.
Let me be clear: This is baseload, 24/7 clean energy, and that is why
I am proud to co-lead the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act with
Congressman Hurd.
Our bipartisan package is the most significant geothermal legislation
in more than a half a century since the foundational Geothermal Steam
Act of 1970. I am thrilled that the package includes my STEAM Act,
which I am proud to co-lead with Representative Celeste Maloy and
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. The STEAM Act will ensure that the
geothermal industry has the same flexibility to explore and develop on
previously disturbed or studied public lands that the oil and gas
industry has had for upwards of two decades. At long last, we will be
leveling the playing field for this promising and proven 24/7 clean
energy source.
Mr. Speaker, there is a reason that the STEAM Act and all six bills
in the package unanimously passed out of the House Natural Resources
Committee: It is because Members from all corners of the ideological
spectrum know that geothermal can make a real difference.
The U.S. contains more than five terawatts of geothermal resources,
enough to meet the electricity needs of the entire world. With energy
costs going up, I have long said that we need to embrace an all-of-the-
above approach to bring down these costs for hardworking Americans.
This geothermal package and the homegrown energy that it supports will
do just that.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support our bipartisan,
commonsense, and cost-saving legislation.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Utah (Mr. Kennedy).
Mr. KENNEDY of Utah. Mr. Speaker, today, we have an opportunity to
unlock one of America's greatest untapped energy resources and invest
in our Nation's future.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5631, the Geothermal Energy
Advancement Act.
First, I thank Representative Hurd, Chairman Westerman, and my
colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee, and the staff, theirs
and mine, who put the work in to build this historic geothermal
package. I am proud that my own bill, the Geothermal Royalty Reform
Act, is being passed as part of it, giving developers the regulatory
certainty they need to build.
Geothermal is one of the most promising, untapped renewable energy
resources on the planet, and no State is better positioned to lead the
world into this frontier than the State of Utah, with more than 10
gigawatts of reliable power beneath it.
The Department of Energy projects that next-generation geothermal
could provide 90 gigawatts of power nationwide by 2050, a 20 times
increase, enough to power millions of homes while meeting our rising
demand.
It is firm, baseload power, the kind that can keep the grid stable
and energy affordable for working families. Energy costs are climbing,
and families feel it every month. Geothermal can be part of the answer.
What is standing in the way? For too long, it was our own regulatory
environment. Geothermal developers have been forced through a maze of
outdated permitting and duplicative reviews. This bill will clear those
obstacles instead of creating them.
Mr. Speaker, the resource is real, the technology is proven, and
American industry is ready to build. The only thing holding us back now
is Washington itself. This bill changes that and puts the clean power
beneath our feet to work. Let's unlock American energy and deliver the
reliable power this country runs on.
Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record six letters of
support for the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act. These letters are
from ClearPath Action, Corporate Energy Buyers Association, Enhanced
Geothermal Systems Deployment Coalition, Geothermal Rising Action,
Ormat Technologies, and Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals.
ClearPath Action,
June 2, 2026.
Hon. Bruce Westerman,
Chairman, House Committee on Natural Resources, Washington,
DC.
Hon. Jared Huffman,
Ranking Member, House Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Westerman and Ranking Member Huffman: On
behalf of ClearPath Action, I write to express our strong
support for two pieces of legislation under House floor
consideration this week: H.R. 1687, the Committing Leases for
Energy Access Now (CLEAN) Act and H.R. 5631, the Geothermal
Energy Advancement Act. Together, these bipartisan bills will
help unlock America's geothermal potential--delivering clean,
firm, baseload power to meet surging electricity demand while
advancing energy security.
ClearPath Action advocates for more clean energy
innovation, modernized permitting and regulatory reform,
America's global competitiveness for manufacturing, and
unlocking more American resources. For over a decade,
ClearPath Action has championed policies that harness the
power of the private sector and reduce government red tape to
deploy innovative American energy technologies, including
next-generation geothermal. Geothermal power remains an
underutilized resource that is largely stranded on federal
lands due to outdated and inefficient leasing and permitting
regimes. The legislation before the House this week will take
meaningful action to reduce these barriers and allow the
technology to reach commercial scale.
The moment is ripe for action. A new wave of enhanced
geothermal technologies is rapidly maturing, promising to
extend geothermal to geologies far beyond traditional
hotspots. Nearly 90 percent of U.S. geothermal resources are
located on federal lands, yet the current leasing backlog and
permitting uncertainty make it difficult for developers to
plan and finance projects with confidence. The industry needs
a permitting process that keeps pace with commercial
ambition.
The CLEAN Act and the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act
deliver exactly that. Passage of both bills would send a
powerful signal that Congress is serious about unleashing
domestic geothermal resources, diversifying America's clean
energy supply, and ensuring that federal land management
serves as a platform for American energy dominance rather
than an obstacle to it.
ClearPath Action urges the House to pass both bills. We
stand ready to work with the Committee, House leadership, and
the Senate on additional steps to enact these measures into
law. Thank you for your leadership on this critical issue.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Harrell,
Chief Executive Officer,
ClearPath Action.
____
CEBA,
June 1, 2026.
Hon. Mike Johnson,
Speaker of the House,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Hakeem Jeffries,
Minority Leader,
Washington, DC.
Re The Corporate Energy Buyers Association Supports H.R.
5631, The Geothermal Energy Advancement Act
Dear Speaker Johnson and Leader Jeffries: On behalf of the
Corporate Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) and our more than
320 member companies, I write to share our strong support for
H.R. 5631, the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act. CEBA
appreciates your leadership in bringing this bipartisan
legislation to the House floor. We are also grateful to the
bill's sponsors and the House Natural Resources Committee for
developing a package that addresses real barriers to
geothermal deployment. CEBA respectfully urges Members of the
House to vote in favor of H.R. 5631.
As a business association representing the largest
corporate clean energy buyers in the United States, CEBA
strongly supports policies that will accelerate the
development and deployment of low-cost, reliable, carbon
emissions-free energy sources, including geothermal
technologies.
Geothermal energy is an abundant, reliable electricity
source that can help support increasing demand from economic
growth, particularly in the West, while strengthening energy
security. With a high capacity factor of about 90 percent
geothermal power plants provide a steady output of baseload
electricity to power large energy customers or support other
renewable energy resources. While the U.S. has significant
geothermal potential, the relatively nascent sector faces
high upfront capital costs, investment barriers, and
technological limitations that lawmakers are seeking to
address. Passing the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act will
accelerate the permitting process for
[[Page H3764]]
geothermal projects, addressing some of the major regulatory
barriers hindering greater buildout.
CEBA is pleased to see significant bipartisan support for
this legislation. We look forward to continuing our work with
your offices and all members of Congress to advance
commonsense geothermal permitting policies. Again, we
respectfully urge House leadership to support passage of the
Geothermal Energy Advancement Act and encourage your
colleagues to vote in favor of the package when it is brought
before the full House. Thank you for your leadership in
working to ensure reliable, affordable, domestically sourced
electricity for all Americans.
Sincerely,
Rich Powell,
CEO, CEBA.
____
EGS DC,
June 1, 2026.
The Enhanced Geothermal Systems Deployment Coalition (EGS
DC) encourages the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the
Geothermal Energy Advancement Act (H.R. 5631) and the
Committing Leases for Energy access Now (CLEAN) Act (H.R.
1687).
The Geothermal Energy Advancement Act is a package of six
bills that would modernize the federal geothermal leasing,
permitting, and regulatory process, including:
Geothermal Energy Opportunity (GEO) Act (H.R. 301; Rep.
Celeste Maloy, R-UT)
Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2025 (H.R. 398;
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY)
Streamlining Thermal Energy through Advanced Mechanisms
(STEAM) Act (H,R. 1077; Rep. Susie Lee, D-NV)
Geothermal Gold Book Development Act (H.R. 5617; Rep.
Yassamin Ansari, D-AZ)
Geothermal Ombudsman for National Deployment and Optimal
Reviews Act (H.R. 5631; Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-CO)
Geothermal Royalty Reform Act (H.R. 5638; Rep. Mike
Kennedy, R-UT)
Together alongside the CLEAN Act, these bills would improve
permitting timelines, establish clearer federal coordination,
and provide greater certainty for geothermal project
development, accelerating the responsible deployment of
enhanced geothermal technologies nationwide.
This package represents the most significant geothermal
legislative effort in years and reflects broad bipartisan
recognition of geothermal energy's role in supporting
reliable, domestic power generation. While testifying on this
legislation, Fervo Energy CEO Tim Latimer emphasized that
``the greatest barrier to geothermal growth isn't
technology--its process. [. . .] With targeted reforms to
environmental review and transmission permitting, geothermal
can become a cornerstone of America's energy supply.''
EGS DC supports passage of this package and encourages the
Senate to act on this legislation and advance solutions that
expand enhanced geothermal energy and strengthen American
energy leadership.
____
Geothermal Rising Action,
Re Support for H.R. 5631, the Geothermal Energy Advancement
Act, and H.R. 1687, the CLEAN Act.
Dear Members of the House of Representatives: On behalf of
Geothermal Rising Action, an affiliate of the national trade
association for the American geothermal industry representing
over 100 organizational members, we urge a YES vote on H.R.
5631, the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act, and H.R. 1687,
the Committing Leases for Energy Access Now (CLEAN) Act.
H.R. 5631 combines six bipartisan bills approved
unanimously by the House Natural Resources Committee: The
Geothermal Ombudsman for National Deployment and Optimal
Reviews Act; The Streamlining Thermal Energy through Advanced
Mechanisms (STEAM) Act; The Geothermal Energy Opportunity
(GEO) Act; The Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of
2025; The Geothermal Gold Book Development Act; and The
Geothermal Royalty Reform Act. Together with the CLEAN Act,
this legislation addresses key barriers to geothermal
development on federal lands by streamlining the permitting
process, increasing the frequency of lease sales, improving
agency coordination and best practices, and providing greater
regulatory certainty for geothermal developers.
Geothermal energy operates 24/7 at over 90 percent
capacity, has the smallest land footprint per megawatt-hour
of any energy source, creates jobs using the same workforce
and equipment as oil and gas, and can co-produce critical
minerals essential for national security. Over 90 percent of
discoverable geothermal resources are on federal lands.
Federal permitting remains one of the most persistent
bottlenecks to deployment, and this legislation provides
practical, bipartisan solutions.
We respectfully urge the House to pass both bills and
welcome the opportunity to serve as a resource to any Member
or staff with questions about geothermal energy.
Sincerely,
Caity Smith,
President, Geothermal Rising Action.
____
ORMAT,
June 1, 2026.
Hon. Mike Johnson,
Speaker, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Hakeem Jeffries,
Democratic Leader, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Speaker Johnson and Leader Jeffries: On behalf of Ormat
Technologies Inc. (Ormat) I am writing in support of H.R.
5631, the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act.
Ormat is a vertically integrated global leader in
geothermal power, energy storage, solar, and recovered energy
generation. Headquartered in Reno, Nevada, Ormat is a leading
geothermal company with more than 1,650 employees and over
six decades of experience in the geothermal power business.
Ormat is a vertically integrated company that designs,
develops, manufactures, owns, and operates geothermal power
plants all over the world, with a generating portfolio of 1.8
gigawatts. In Nevada, Ormat operates 14 facilities which
produce 507 megawatts and employ more than 400 employees.
This provides enough power for 325,000 homes, contributes
more than $30 million in operations, taxes, and royalties,
and avoids 59 million metric tons of CO2 annually.
Ormat has extensive experience developing and producing
renewable energy on public lands, with 22 operating
facilities utilizing 338,855 acres of Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) leases in California, Idaho, Nevada, New
Mexico, Oregon, and Utah. In 2020 Ormat paid $2.6 million in
royalties and almost $1 million in rentals to the BLM.
Ormat strongly supports the permitting reforms in the
Geothermal Energy Advancement Act. Specifically, among other
measures, the bill would (1) establish deadlines for the
issuance of administrative permits that are necessary to
commence operations after the environmental review for a
geothermal energy project is complete; (2) ensure fair
royalty treatment for leases that have multiple projects; and
(3) establish a Geothermal Ombudsman at the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) to serve as a liaison between BLM field
offices and the BLM Director and develop best practices for
geothermal energy leasing and permitting. All of these
reforms would streamline the permitting process for
geothermal development and would allow for more energy to be
deployed on federal lands.
We strongly support this legislation and urge you to
advance these reforms as expeditiously as possible.
Sincerely,
Erica Freese,
Director, Business Development,
Ormat Technologies Inc.
____
Zanskar,
May 29, 2026.
Hon. Mike Johnson,
Speaker, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Hakeem Jeffries,
House Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Washington,
DC.
Dear Speaker Johnson and Minority Leader Jeffries: On
behalf of Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals, Inc. (``Zanskar''),
I write to express our strong support for the Advancing
Geothermal Energy Act and the CLEAN Act. We appreciate the
House Natural Resources Committee's bipartisan work to
advance this practical package of reforms, and we urge the
full House to pass these important bills.
Zanskar is an American energy technology company focused on
discovering America's hidden geothermal resources and
transforming them into baseload, clean power plants. We build
artificial intelligence tools that map the Earth's subsurface
with a level of precision that, just a decade ago, was
considered impossible, and we deploy them through what we
believe is the most significant field data collection and
drilling campaign for geothermal in American history. Through
this work, we are showing that the American age of geothermal
discovery is just getting started, and that geothermal
development can be systematic, repeatable, and scalable.
Unlocking our nation's geothermal frontier will require
real partnership between the public and private sectors, and
a practical policy framework to steward American geothermal
development on federal lands. Today, developers may spend
five to ten years navigating leasing and permitting processes
before demonstrating whether a resource is commercially
viable. This deters capital and strands projects that should
be moving forward.
The bills in this package make practical, long-overdue
reforms to help address these barriers, from permitting
timelines and leasing consistency to royalty structures and
interagency coordination. Together, they take important steps
to create the policy framework needed to accelerate our
efforts to discover and develop America's geothermal
frontier.
Thank you for your leadership on this issue. We welcome the
opportunity to serve as a resource to you and your staff as
these efforts move forward.
Respectfully,
Ben Brenner,
Director of Federal Affairs,
Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals, Inc.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the
Geothermal Energy Advancement Act. At a time when competition with
China on AI and data centers is at an all-time high, we cannot afford
to fall behind in power generation. Geothermal energy can provide
reliable, baseload power throughout the West, as well as other parts of
the country, and enhance American energy independence.
[[Page H3765]]
Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsors of the bill included in this
bipartisan package for their work to bring this legislation to the
floor, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Goldman of Texas). The question is on
the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5631, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to promote
responsible geothermal energy development on public lands, and for
other purposes.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________