Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act

H.R. 5576 would amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to speed up geothermal energy development on federal lands. The bill would create a limited exemption from federal environmental review (NEPA) for small-scale geothermal exploration activities, such as drilling temperature gradient wells and monitoring wells, provided they meet specific size and timeline requirements. Currently, geothermal exploration projects can take 10 months or longer for environmental assessment before companies can even determine if a viable resource exists. The bill would also require the Secretary of the Interior to identify priority areas for geothermal leasing on federal lands within three years.

If enacted, the bill could accelerate geothermal energy development by reducing regulatory delays and costs for companies exploring geothermal resources. Since approximately 90 percent of viable geothermal resources are located on federally managed lands, streamlining the permitting process could make geothermal projects more economically feasible. Geothermal energy provides reliable, baseload renewable power and could help meet growing electricity demand. However, the bill has not yet passed and would need approval from both chambers of Congress and the President to become law.