Sponsors (5)
The bill speeds and expands geothermal leasing and creates predictable permitting timelines to accelerate clean-energy development and local economic activity, but increases risks of rushed environmental review, agency workload, litigation, and potential costs to taxpayers.
Utilities and geothermal developers will face faster, clearer permitting timelines (strict completeness and decision deadlines), speeding project starts and reducing project schedule uncertainty.
State governments and potential lessees will have more opportunities to obtain geothermal leases because lease sales are required at least annually.
Rural communities and local economies are more likely to see nominated parcels offered (statutory requirement to offer at least 75%), increasing chances for local development and clean energy jobs.
Rural communities, tribal stakeholders, and the environment could face rushed or inadequate environmental review because short statutory timelines constrain agency analysis.
Interior Department staff and federal agencies will face increased administrative burden from annual sales and tight permit deadlines, likely requiring more resources or reprioritization.
Developers and local communities could see more litigation and delays because the requirement to offer 75% (and presumptively 100% absent written justification) of nominated parcels may push leasing of parcels with unresolved conflicts.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires annual competitive geothermal lease sales, minimum parcel-offer rules, and strict permit-processing timelines with required notices.
Official title: CLEAN Act
Introduced February 27, 2025 by Russell Fulcher · Last progress June 3, 2026
Requires the Department of the Interior to hold competitive geothermal lease sales every year, replace cancelled or delayed sales within the same year, and offer at least 75% of nominated parcels (with limited exceptions). It also imposes firm timelines and notice requirements for processing geothermal drilling permit applications so applicants receive completeness decisions within 30 days and final or deferred permit decisions on accelerated schedules.