The Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 would be amended to require the Interior Department to hold geothermal lease sales on federal land annually instead of every two years, and to conduct replacement sales in the same year if a sale is canceled or delayed, under a bill from Reps. Fulcher, Maloy, and Boebert. A 60-day total deadline would apply to geothermal drilling permits — Interior would have 30 days to determine completeness and 30 days to issue a final decision once complete. Geothermal energy is dispatchable renewable power that uses subsurface heat to drive generators; the U.S. has substantial untapped resources in the West, particularly in Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and California. The bill is aimed at increasing the pace of geothermal development on public lands.
Environmental Concerns
- Geothermal energy lease offerings on federal land — annual sales required, plus replacement sales if canceled
- Federal review window on geothermal drilling permits — capped at 60 days total
Congressional Summary
Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act or the CLEAN ActThis bill directs the Department of the Interior to increase the frequency of lease sales for developing and utilizing geothermal energy on federal land.Specifically, Interior must hold lease sales at least once a year (rather than two years) in states with pending nominations of federal land to be leased for geothermal energy development.In conducting such lease sales, Interior must offer all of the pending nominated parcels eligible for geothermal development and utilization under the resource management plan in effect for the state.If a lease sale is canceled or delayed, Interior must conduct a replacement sale during the same year.Finally, the bill establishes deadlines for Interior to respond to applications for geothermal drilling permits.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-02-27
- Date Added
- 2026-05-08
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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