Sponsors (5)
The bill speeds geothermal leasing and permitting to accelerate clean-energy development and economic opportunities, but increases risks of rushed environmental review, local impacts, and potential taxpayer costs.
Utilities, energy developers, and local workers will get faster permit decisions and more frequent leasing, reducing approval uncertainty and speeding deployment of geothermal projects, which can create jobs and accelerate renewable energy production.
Annual (rather than biennial) lease sales increase opportunities to lease geothermal resources, potentially accelerating development and local economic activity in areas with geothermal potential.
Requiring the Secretary to offer at least 75% of nominated parcels (and to document reasons for withholding the remainder) makes leasing outcomes more predictable for state governments and developers, aiding planning and investment decisions.
Rushed timelines and increased leasing frequency may strain Interior staffing and lead to compressed or inadequate environmental reviews, raising the risk of unforeseen environmental harm across affected areas.
Mandating offering of nearly all nominated parcels could force leasing in environmentally sensitive or contested locations, increasing local health, safety, and environmental impacts for nearby communities.
Faster permitting and expanded leasing could shift costs to taxpayers if increased oversight, litigation, remediation, or other corrective actions become necessary.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires annual competitive geothermal lease sales, mandates offering at least 75% of nominated parcels, and sets 30-/30-/10-day timelines for drilling permit processing.
Requires the Department of the Interior to hold competitive geothermal lease sales every year (instead of every two years), to replace canceled sales, and to offer most nominated parcels unless a written justification prevents it. It also creates firm, short deadlines for agency processing of geothermal drilling permit applications: a 30-day completeness notice, a 30-day decision or written deferral with required applicant and agency steps, and a 10-day decision after the applicant corrects deficiencies and the agency meets its timelines. The changes speed up leasing and permitting for geothermal development, increase the minimum share of nominated parcels offered at sale, and add enforceable procedural timelines aimed at reducing administrative delay for developers and applicants.
Official title: CLEAN Act
Introduced February 27, 2025 by Russell Fulcher · Last progress June 3, 2026