The House on Thursday approved legislation that would exempt certain geothermal projects on state and private land from federal drilling permit requirements.
Legislation to encourage geothermal energy production generally enjoys broad bipartisan support, but H.R. 5587, the “Harnessing Energy at Thermal Sources (HEATS) Act,” generated significant Democratic opposition.
Led by Reps. Young Kim (R-Calif.) and Adam Gray (D-Calif.), the bill passed 231–186, with all Republicans and 22 Democrats voting “yes.” Gray was the sole Democrat to support the bill in the Natural Resources Committee.
“Geothermal operators will still go through a rigorous state-level permitting process, but they no longer will be subjected to duplicative federal requirements that slow production, raise costs and kill jobs,” Kim said during floor debate.
