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HR6482FEDERALFederal Billfiled
High Impact

Proposed Changes to Geothermal Energy Exploration on Federal Lands

Original title: Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act

Record date · December 10, 2024

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
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What This Bill Would Do

This bill streamlines the process for geothermal energy exploration on federal lands by exempting certain small-scale projects from major federal environmental reviews and requiring the government to designate priority areas for geothermal leasing. It aims to speed up the development of geothermal resources by reducing regulatory hurdles for specific drilling activities and mandating a new federal planning process.

Why it matters

If passed, this bill would change the environmental review requirements for geothermal developers and mandate that the Secretary of the Interior designate specific federal lands for priority geothermal leasing within five years, potentially accelerating energy project timelines.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Geothermal leaseholders

They must provide 30 days' notice before drilling and follow specific project criteria to qualify for NEPA exemptions.

Directly affected

State, Tribal, and local governments

They are to be consulted on an ongoing basis during the development of programmatic environmental impact statements.

Directly affected

Transmission infrastructure owners and operators

They are to be consulted during the development of programmatic environmental impact statements.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifies as a 'geothermal exploration project' under this bill?
A project is defined as an exploration well (temperature gradient, monitoring, calibration, or other) that disturbs less than 5 acres, uses casing with an outer diameter under 13 inches, is completed within 120 days, and includes a restoration plan within 3 years.
Does this bill remove all environmental review requirements?
No. It exempts specific small-scale exploration projects from being classified as 's' under NEPA, but it still requires the Secretary to maintain s for designated priority areas.
What is a 'geothermal leasing priority area'?
It is a portion of federal land, not otherwise excluded from geothermal development, that the Secretary of the Interior designates as a priority for geothermal leasing based on economic viability and transmission access.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

Fulcher, Michael, National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, U.S. Government Publishing Office and 4 more
PersonFulcher, Michael“Introduced the bill in the House of Representatives”Map →
otherNational Environmental Policy Act of 1969“Act that geothermal exploration projects are exempt from”Map →
OrganizationU.S. Government Publishing Office“Published the Congressional Bills”Map →
bill number30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.“Code section referencing the Geothermal Steam Act”Map →
OrganizationSecretary of Energy“Consulted in the designation of geothermal leasing priority areas”Map →
bill numberGeothermal Steam Act of 1970“The primary legislation being amended”Map →
otherFederal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976“Act used for land use planning”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.congress.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy50
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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