STEAM Act

The STEAM Act (Streamlining Thermal Energy through Advanced Mechanisms Act) would expedite environmental review processes for certain geothermal energy projects. Specifically, it would expand existing exemptions from detailed environmental review under federal law to include geothermal drilling activities. This would apply to drilling in areas where drilling has occurred within the previous five years, or in developed fields where drilling was already identified as a foreseeable activity in approved land use plans.

If enacted, this bill could reduce the time and regulatory burden required to develop geothermal energy resources. For citizens, this might lead to faster development of geothermal power generation, which is a renewable energy source. However, it could also mean less extensive environmental review for these projects. The bill has passed committee review and is now eligible for a floor vote in the House of Representatives.