Geothermal energy developers seeking permits on federal public lands would face a new 60-day approval deadline after completing all required environmental reviews, even if a related lawsuit is pending in court. A Geothermal Ombudsman and Permitting Task Force are created within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM, the federal agency that oversees public lands) to coordinate permitting across regional offices, resolve disputes with permit applicants, and develop best practices. Developers may be required to reimburse the federal government for reasonable costs of processing their applications and conducting site inspections through September 2033, with exceptions for economic hardship. The bill also extends a streamlined environmental review option — a categorical exclusion from the National Environmental Policy Act — currently available to oil and gas projects, to geothermal exploration and development on federal lands.
Environmental Concerns
- NEPA categorical exclusion scope — geothermal exploration and development added, reducing mandatory environmental analysis for qualifying projects
Transparency & Accountability
- Annual Ombudsman report — required annual report to Congress on task force activities and permit-processing timelines
- 5-year cost recovery report — public report with program-effectiveness assessment and reauthorization recommendations required
Congressional Summary
Geothermal Ombudsman for National Deployment and Optimal Reviews ActThis bill establishes a geothermal ombudsman and task force to oversee geothermal project permitting and authorizations on federal land.The Department of the Interior must appoint a geothermal ombudsman from within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The ombudsman must act as a liaison among different parts of BLM, provide dispute resolution services between BLM and geothermal project applicants, and facilitate permit processing in different BLM field offices regarding geothermal projects on federal land.The ombudsman must also lead the Geothermal Permitting Task Force established by this bill. The task force must support the ombudsman’s duties. Through the task force, the ombudsman may reassign employees from other Interior bureaus or offices to assist in the completion of geothermal authorizations. The ombudsman may pay a retention allowance to reassigned employees.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Reported to House
- Action Date
- 2026-05-20
- Date Added
- 2026-05-30
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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