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July 20, 2026
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Download official House Record PDFReturn to issue contextMr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8790) to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to direct research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities in support of next-generation geothermal and closed-loop geothermal systems in various conditions, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 8790
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Next-Generation Geothermal
Research and Development Act”.
SEC. 2. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY.
(a) In General.—The Energy Independence and Security Act
of 2007 (Public Law 110-140) is amended—
(1) in section 612 (42 U.S.C. 17191; relating to
definitions)—
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5),
(6), (7), and (8) as paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7),
(8), and (10), respectively;
(B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated,
the following new paragraph:
“(1) Closed-loop geothermal systems.—The term `closed-
loop geothermal systems' means a wellbore or subsurface
circuit of wellbores containing a fluid heated through
contact with the borehole wall.”;
(C) by inserting after paragraph (8), as so redesignated,
the following new paragraph:
“(9) Next-generation geothermal systems.—The term `next-
generation geothermal systems' means—
“(A) enhanced geothermal systems;
“(B) closed-loop geothermal systems;
“(C) in supercritical conditions—
“(i) enhanced geothermal systems; or
“(ii) closed-loop geothermal systems; and
“(D) other innovative energy technologies.”; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(11) Supercritical geothermal.—The term `supercritical
geothermal' means energy derived from a subsurface rock
resource in-situ existing at or above the supercritical
conditions, whether relating to temperature or pressure, of
the primary fluid present.”;
(2) in section 613(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 17192(b)(1); relating
to hydrothermal research and development), by striking
“advanced geologic tools to assist” and inserting
“advanced tools, including machine learning algorithms, to
assist”;
(3) in section 614 (42 U.S.C. 17193; relating to general
geothermal systems research and development)—
(A) in subsection (d)(1), by striking “among the Office of
Fossil Energy, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy,” and inserting “across the Department”; and
(B) in subsection (h)—
(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting “and publicly available
subsurface data, including data reported as part of fossil
fuel and mining operations,” after “geothermal drilling
information”; and
(ii) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following
new subparagraphs:
“(C) Updates.—The repository established under paragraph
(1) shall be periodically updated in order to carry out the
following:
“(i) Standardize data in a uniform manner to the maximum
extent practicable and enable analysis across different
projects.
“(ii) Enhance the accessibility and usability of data to
increase analysis of geothermal energy and next-generation
geothermal systems on regional, local, and site-specific
scales.
“(iii) Increase uses of data, including data viewable by
map and organization by common attributes, such as region.
“(iv) Make other improvements in functionality and
usability, as determined by the Secretary.
“(D) Memorandum of understanding.—
“(i) In general.—The Secretary shall enter into a
memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of the
Interior, and with the heads of other relevant Federal
departments, for notifying, sharing, and providing
opportunities for additional data collection regarding shared
geothermal development data from projects funded by the
Department of the Interior and each such other relevant
department, including data from mining, critical minerals,
and energy projects, such as subsurface heat data, seismic
data, lithology data, boundaries of State and federally
protected areas, and existing transmission capacity.
“(ii) Prioritization.—To the maximum extent practicable,
activities conducted pursuant to a memorandum of
understanding under clause (i) shall prioritize heat,
lithology, and strain profiles through deep exploration
boreholes and control points for deep heat mapping and
geothermal development.
“(E) Regional data probes.—The Secretary of the Interior
may, in consultation with the Secretary, commission the
drilling of supercritical geothermal exploration boreholes in
representative geological provinces in the United States to
provide control points for deep heat mapping and geothermal
development. The resulting data shall include an exploration
of heat, lithology, and strain profiles, and shall be shared
publicly on the repository established under paragraph (1).
“(F) Study on site selection characteristics for
supercritical geothermal.—The Secretary of the Interior
shall, in consultation with the Secretary, conduct a study on
site selection characteristics in representative geological
provinces in the United States, including the United States
territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana
Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, for
supercritical geothermal.”;
(4) in section 615 (42 U.S.C. 17194; relating to enhanced
geothermal systems research and development)—
(A) in the section heading, by striking “enhanced” and
inserting “next-generation”;
(B) in subsection (a), by striking “enhanced” and
inserting “next-generation”;
(C) in subsection (b)—
(i) in the heading, by inserting “and Closed-loop” after
“Enhanced”;
(ii) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting
“and closed-loop” after “enhanced”;
(iii) in paragraph (11), by striking “and” after the
semicolon;
(iv) in paragraph (12), by striking the period and
inserting “; and”; and
(v) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(13) the research topics specified in subparagraphs (1)
through (12) in supercritical conditions.”;
(D) in subsection (c)—
(i) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
(ii) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new
paragraph:
“(7) Next-generation geothermal testing.—Not later than
one year after the date of the enactment of this paragraph,
the Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to
ensure that at least one FORGE site has the capabilities to
include next-generation geothermal testing, including in
supercritical conditions.”; and
(E) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
“(e) Next-generation Geothermal Research and Development
Program.—
“(1) In general.—Within the Geothermal Technologies
Office of the Department, the Secretary shall support a
program of next-generation geothermal research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application activities,
including in supercritical conditions.
“(2) Focus areas.—
“(A) In general.—The program described in paragraph (1)
shall focus on the following topics:
“(i) Well completion.
“(ii) Permeability creation and management, including
proppants and packers.
“(iii) Materials development and equipment design,
including power production, specific to supercritical
geothermal systems.
“(iv) Sensor development.
“(v) Water-rock geochemistry.
“(vi) Rock properties.
“(vii) Hard rock and deep drilling.
“(viii) Any other topics the Secretary determines
necessary.
“(B) Prioritization.—In carrying out next-generation
geothermal research under the program described in paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall prioritize projects best able to
produce iterative data for deep drilling projects in unique
geodynamic settings on the following topics:
“(i) Characterization and crustal stress.
“(ii) Lab work.
“(iii) Drilling.
“(iv) Stimulation.
“(v) Power production.
“(C) Administration.—The Secretary may administer grants
to institutions of higher education and private sector
entities to carry out activities on the topics specified in
subparagraph (A) and, to the maximum extent practicable,
share data, results, and information publicly.
“(3) Report on water use.—Not later than five years after
the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary
shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate a report on the following:
“(A) Water use and estimated needs of enhanced geothermal
systems.
“(B) Water use and estimated needs for closed-loop, and
next-generation geothermal energy production.
“(C) The ability of next-generation geothermal systems to
use brackish and nonpotable water.
“(D) The withdrawal and consumption of water per megawatt
hour of next-generation geothermal systems, as compared to
other power-generation technologies.
“(E) Technological and operational improvements that could
lead to decreases in water withdrawal and consumption of
next-generation geothermal systems.
“(4) Next-generation geothermal center of excellence.—
“(A) Establishment.—The Secretary shall award grants
through a competitive, merit-reviewed process, to National
Laboratories (as such term is defined in section 2 of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)), multi-
institutional collaborations, public-private partnerships, or
institutes of higher education (or consortia thereof) for the
following:
“(i) The continuation and expansion of research,
development, demonstration, testing, and commercial
application activities applicable to FORGE sites, including
activities in supercritical conditions.
“(ii) The establishment of a next-generation geothermal
systems center of excellence.
“(B) Location.—In selecting National Laboratories, multi-
institutional collaborations, public-private partnerships, or
institutions of higher education (or a consortia thereof) for
a center of excellence referred to in subparagraph (A), the
Secretary shall consider the following criteria:
“(i) Whether the entity hosts an existing geothermal
energy research and development program.
“(ii) Whether the entity has proven technical expertise to
support geothermal energy research.
“(iii) Whether the entity has access to geothermal
resources.
“(C) Purpose.—The center of excellence referred to in
subparagraph (A) shall coordinate among existing FORGE sites,
the Department, and National Laboratories to carry out the
following:
“(i) Advance research, development, demonstration, and
commercial application of next-generation geothermal energy
technologies, including supercritical geothermal
technologies, in response to industry and commercial needs,
including by partnering with other academic or research
institutions, industry, non-governmental organizations, and
State, local, or Tribal governments.
“(ii) Foster collaboration for education, research, and
partnership initiatives in order to support the technology,
deployment, and workforce needs of the United States
geothermal energy industry, including a focus on next-
generation geothermal systems.
“(iii) Support workforce development across the next-
generation geothermal systems energy development lifecycle.
“(iv) Provide educational, technical, and analytical
assistance on next-generation geothermal systems to Federal
agencies, industry, and State, local, and Tribal governments.
“(v) Collect and disseminate information on best practices
in all areas relating to developing and managing geothermal
energy resources and energy systems, including next-
generation geothermal systems.
“(5) Commercial-readiness innovation grants.—
“(A) In general.—The Secretary shall award grants to
accelerate the development, testing, and implementation of
innovative technologies identified as areas for improving the
performance of commercial geothermal energy projects using
next-generation geothermal systems.
“(B) Focus areas.—Grants may be awarded under this
paragraph for innovative technologies, including the
following:
“(i) Hardrock drilling equipment, components, and systems,
including bit design and vibration control.
“(ii) Reservoir characterization, well design and spacing,
and completions.
“(iii) Data acquisition and analysis, including fiber
optic sensing tools and methodologies.
“(C) Applications.—
“(i) In general.—An entity seeking a grant under this
paragraph shall submit to the Secretary an application at
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as
the Secretary may require.
“(ii) Prioritization.—In awarding grants under this
paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to the
following:
“(I) Applicants, including for-profit entities and public-
private partnerships, with demonstrated expertise relating to
in-field development and commercial operations for geothermal
energy projects.
“(II) Projects with the greatest ability to advance near-
term commercial deployment of enhanced geothermal systems and
closed-loop geothermal systems.
“(III) Projects that advance the commercialization of
geothermal energy projects in diverse geological conditions
or supercritical conditions.
“(D) Cost sharing.—The Federal share of the cost of a
project carried out with a grant under this paragraph shall
be not more than 80 percent.
“(f) Authorization of Appropriations.—There is authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section
$150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. Such
amounts shall be derived from amounts otherwise authorized to
be appropriated to the Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy of the Department.”; and
(5) in section 617 (42 U.S.C. 17196; relating to
organization and administration of programs)—
(A) in subsection (e), by striking “Committee on Science
and Technology” and inserting “Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology”; and
(B) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
“(f) Progress Reports.—Not later than one year after the
date of the enactment of this subsection and every two years
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate a report that contains the following:
“(1) A description of the maximum potential of geothermal
resources in the United States, including a consideration of
next-generation geothermal systems.
“(2) Information relating to the results of projects
undertaken under this section.
“(3) An assessment of the barriers to commercialization of
next-generation geothermal technologies.
“(4) Such other information as the Secretary considers
appropriate.”.
(b) Update to Geothermal Resource Assessment.—
(1) In general.—Section 2501 of the Energy Policy Act of
1992 (30 U.S.C. 1028) is amended—
(A) in subsection (c)—
(i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting
“quadrennially” before “update”;
(ii) in paragraph (1)(D)(ii), by striking “and” at the
end;
(iii) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end
and inserting “; and”; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(3) to the maximum extent practicable, by assessing
regions of the United States, including the United States
territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana
Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with
significant potential for supercritical geothermal (as such
term is defined in section 612 of the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17191)).”; and
(B) by striking subsection (d).
(2) First update.—The first quadrennial update to the
geothermal resource assessment carried out by the United
States Geological Survey under subsection (c) of section 2501
of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, as amended by paragraph
(1), shall be completed by not later than two years after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Clerical Amendment.—The table of contents in section
1(b) of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 is
amended by amending the item relating to section 615 to read
as follows:
“Sec. 615. Next-generation geothermal systems research and
development.”.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8790, the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, sponsored by my colleagues, Representatives Harrigan and Salinas.
include novel geothermal approaches and directs the Department of Energy to support these baseload energy-producing technologies.
support baseload geothermal electricity generation are now viable for power production.
to the grid to ensure that we have both reliable power and the grid stability needed to support continued economic growth and technological advancement.
{time} 1730
of understanding with the Department of the Interior to facilitate the sharing of geothermal data and to improve understanding of the subsurface.
the Interior's drilling data repository by including additional data sources, periodic updates, and standardized data to enhance its overall functionality and usability.
industry a better understanding of the subsurface and the resources beneath our feet.
Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy, or FORGE, by requiring next-generation geothermal testing at one or more additional FORGE sites, if deemed necessary by the Department of Energy.
innovative drilling, next-generation geothermal systems can be used to generate power.
authorizes the Department of Energy to foster this emerging industry by awarding grants to accelerate the development, testing, and implementation of innovative technologies that improve the performance of next-generation geothermal energy projects.
Representatives Harrigan and Salinas on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives
Committee on Natural Resources,
Washington, DC, July 13, 2026.
Hon. Brian Babin,
Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Babin: I write concerning H.R. 8790, the
“Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act”,
which the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology ordered
reported on May 20, 2026.
There are certain provisions of H.R. 8790 that fall within
the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural
Resources. I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring
this legislation before the House of Representatives in an
expeditious manner, and accordingly agree that the Committee
on Natural Resources shall be discharged from further
consideration of the bill. However, this is conditional on
our mutual understanding that by the forgoing consideration
of H.R. 8790 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction
over the subject matter contained in this or similar
legislation that falls within the Committee on Natural
Resources' Rule X jurisdiction. We also request that the
Committee on Natural Resources' Rule X jurisdiction. We also
request that the Committee on Natural Resources be
appropriately consulted and involved on this or similar
legislation as it moves forward. Further, this does not
prejudice the Committee on Natural Resources with respect to
the appointment of conferees, and should a conference on the
bill be necessary, I appreciate your agreement to support my
request to have the Committee represented on the conference
committee.
Finally, I would ask that a copy of this letter and your
response acknowledging the jurisdictional interest of the
Committee on Natural Resources in the bill be included in the
Committee Report and Congressional Record during
consideration of H.R. 8790 on the House floor.
Sincerely,
Bruce Westerman,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources.
Congress of the United States, House of Representatives,
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
Washington, DC, July 14, 2026.
Hon. Bruce Westerman
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Westerman: I write concerning H.R. 8790, the
“Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act”,
which the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology ordered
reported on May 20, 2026.
I recognize that the bill contains provisions that fall
within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural Resources
and appreciate your willingness to forgo further
consideration of the bill. I acknowledge that the Committee
on Natural Resources will not formally consider H.R. 8790 and
agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the
bill does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter
contained therein.
I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in
the Congressional Record during floor consideration of this
bill and will include such letters in the Committee report on
H.R. 8790. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this
legislation.
Sincerely,
Brian Babin, D.D.S.,
Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Ms. SALINAS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, Americans are facing an affordability crisis. When I talk with Oregonians, they tell me one of the biggest challenges they face right now is the rising cost of electricity.
costs, and climate-change-driven disasters like winter ice storms, wildfires, and drought are also driving up the cost of electricity. We need more tools to ensure we can deliver the reliability and affordability that consumers need.
the Western U.S. Building on these innovations, next-gen geothermal technologies can play an important part in the transition to an affordable and reliable clean energy future across the country.
geothermal electricity in the U.S. Oregon Institute of Technology opened Oregon's first geothermal power plant at their Klamath Falls campus, and for 60 years the school has heated buildings and supplied hot water with geothermal energy.
technologies. Newberry Volcano in central Oregon is a hot spot—anybody laugh?—for geothermal innovation. The industry is piloting commercial- scale power plants there, and they are demonstrating new technologies that will allow geothermal systems to operate in extreme heat conditions, which greatly expands the role that these resources can play in our energy mix.
This is not just about Oregon or the Mountain West anymore. Next-gen geothermal technologies will make it feasible to deploy geothermal energy across the country and serve as a critical tool in the fight against climate change. This renewable energy will help meet America's energy needs across the Nation.
sector, and ensure these technologies move quickly to market so that Americans feel the benefit sooner rather than later.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 8790, the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, will support geothermal research, development, demonstration, and commercialization efforts at the Department of Energy to overcome the remaining engineering challenges and take this technology from promise to reality.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Harrigan).
Mr. HARRIGAN. Madam Speaker, when Americans think about energy, they usually think about things that we can see: oil fields, natural gas pipelines, nuclear power plants, wind farms.
aboveground. It is beneath our feet. That is why I am proud to rise in support of my Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, legislation I am leading with Congresswoman Salinas.
reliable, around-the-clock power. A single supercritical geothermal well has the potential to produce more than seven times the energy of a conventional geothermal well. Experts estimate next-generation geothermal could ultimately provide up to 90 gigawatts of electricity right here at home.
This bill helps close that gap. It directs the Department of Energy to tackle the engineering challenges that still stand in the way of commercialization, expands real-world testing, and strengthens the partnerships between our national labs, universities, and private industry that have always driven American innovation.
winners and losers, but helping solve the kinds of technical challenges the private sector can't solve alone.
Reliable baseload power is no longer a luxury. As AI transforms our economy, manufacturing returns to America, and electricity demand continues to grow, we need to be investing in the technologies that will power the next generation.
families, a stronger electric grid, and less dependence on foreign adversaries. This bill does exactly that.
I urge all of my colleagues to support the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act.
Ms. SALINAS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague Mr. Harrigan for his leadership on this sensible, bipartisan bill, and I urge everyone to vote “yes” on H.R. 8790. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.
bills to accelerate the development of geothermal energy. This legislation builds on those efforts and will help geothermal play an even greater role in meeting our Nation's energy needs.
H.R. 8790 authorizes and directs the Department of Energy to support the research and development of next-generation geothermal technologies, helping ensure that American leadership in this emerging industry remains number one.
this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this simple bipartisan measure.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8790, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.