The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has scheduled a markup on dozens of bills this week, including legislation to ease the development of geothermal energy.
The committee agenda — which is subject to change — includes the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act, H.R. 5631, from Colorado Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd, which passed the House after incorporating proposals from both sides of the aisle.
Provisions would create a “geothermal ombudsman” and geothermal permitting task force within the Interior Department. The legislation would also expedite National Environmental Policy Act reviews and the review of lease applications.
Numerous geothermal bills are making their way through Congress. The House recently passed the CLEAN Act, H.R. 1687, from Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), which would direct Interior to increase the frequency of lease sales. It would also impose deadlines for the Bureau of Land Management to process geothermal drilling permits. Senate action is pending.
