Gallego Introduces Bill to Support Geothermal Energy Projects

WASHINGTON – Today , Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) , Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources’ Energy Subcommittee, introduced the Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act , legislation that would strengthen the federal geothermal permitting program by ensuring the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has the resources it needs to process applications quickly and efficiently. “Energy prices are through the roof and continuing to climb. If we’re going to tackle this crisis and bring costs down, we need to get more electrons on the grid as fast as possible. Expanding geothermal energy production is one efficient way of doing that,” said Senator Gallego . “This commonsense bill ensures we have the resources needed to keep geothermal applications moving so new projects can get off the ground fast.” The Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act would allow the Department of the Interior to recoup reasonable administrative costs, such as application and inspection costs, from geothermal lease applicants and holders through September 30, 2032. By allowing the Department to recoup these costs, it ensures they have the resources needed to process new applications. “The deployment of next-generation geothermal is expected to grow significantly over the coming years, and with it, benefits to American workers, communities, and ratepayers. This bill provides the Department of the Interior much-needed resources to increase its capacity and help enable this growth. By improving project timelines and making processes more efficient, the U.S. can continue to lead in geothermal innovation and ultimately advance the deployment of an exciting new energy resource,” said Terra Rogers, Director for Superhot Rock Energy, Clean Air Task Force . “With the introduction of next-generation technologies, geothermal energy has the potential to be game-changing for our energy sector, providing 24/7, at-scale clean energy. But in order to realize this potential in an efficient and responsible manner, adequate resources are needed for Federal permitting and oversight. Climate Innovation Action applauds Sen. Gallego for the introduction of the Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act, which would take important steps in this direction,” said Roger Ullman, Executive Director, Climate Innovation Action . “BLM permitting capacity is one of the most persistent bottlenecks for geothermal deployment, and the Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act is a smart, fiscally responsible solution. The bill doesn’t add federal spending and the user fees support the agency capacity that geothermal developers need. This is the same authority that already exists for oil and gas. Geothermal Rising Action commends Senator Gallego for his leadership in advancing this common-sense fix,” said Caity Smith, President, Geothermal Rising Action . Read the full text of the legislation HERE . In December, Senator Gallego released his vision for America’s energy future, “ Fostering American Energy Innovation and Affordability ,” to ensure future investments are focused on the most affordable, reliable, and efficient forms of energy. Pillar two of the plan highlights the importance of investing in emerging technologies, like geothermal energy.