Hoeven Introduces Legislation to Expand Geothermal Energy Development

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven this week introduced the Harnessing Energy At Thermal Sources (HEATS) Act, bicameral legislation to support the expanded development of geothermal energy. The bill, which follows the model of Hoeven’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Mineral Spacing Act , would eliminate duplicative federal permitting and ensure majority holders of a geothermal estate located on non-federal lands can exercise their property rights in developing these resources. Specifically, Hoeven’s legislation would remove the federal permitting requirement for geothermal operations in instances when: Less than half of the subsurface geothermal estate is owned by the federal government. Geothermal exploration and production activities are conducted on non-federal surface acres. The operator has received a state permit. “Burdensome, duplicative federal regulations create roadblocks to developing the energy our nation needs. Even when there are no federal surface acres and the federal government owns a small share of a subsurface estate, geothermal operations reviewed and permitted by states are subject to a redundant federal permitting regime. This approach, which affects oil and gas production as well, severely hampers U.S. energy development,” said Hoeven “Just like my BLM Mineral Spacing Act, the HEATS Act would correct this overreach by the federal government, enabling us to produce more geothermal energy on non-federal lands and strengthening the property rights of mineral and land owners.” The HEATS Act is co-sponsored by Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.). A companion to the bill has been introduced in the House by Representative Young Kim (R-Calif.). The full text of the legislation can be found here . -###-