Sponsor
James Risch
Senator · R-ID
Senator · R-ID
The bill speeds and increases access to geothermal leasing and permitting—boosting developers, state revenues, and renewable build-out—while reducing local control and raising risks of rushed environmental review and local impacts/costs.
Geothermal developers and energy companies will get much faster, predictable permit decisions (agency completeness notice within 30 days and final decision soon after), reducing project delays and lowering development costs.
State governments and developers will have more frequent leasing opportunities because lease sales become annual instead of biennial, increasing chances to monetize resources and capture lease revenue each year.
Rural communities and developers will see a larger supply of leasable geothermal acreage because at least 75% of nominated parcels must be offered, which can accelerate clean energy build-out and local economic activity.
State governments and rural communities will have reduced ability to withhold parcels from leasing, limiting local control over land use and potentially exposing sensitive areas to development.
Agencies, developers, and the public face higher risk that NEPA/environmental reviews will be rushed or incomplete due to tight permit timelines, increasing litigation risk and the chance of inadequate environmental protections.
Rural communities and taxpayers may experience more local impacts (noise, traffic, surface disturbance) from accelerated development and may bear mitigation or public-costs associated with increased on-the-ground activity.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires annual competitive geothermal lease sales, replacement sales for cancellations, 75% parcel offering requirement, and strict permit review timelines with 30‑day and 10‑day decision rules.
Official title: Amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to increase the frequency of lease sales, to require replacement sales, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 14, 2026 by James Risch · Last progress July 14, 2026
Changes the Geothermal Steam Act to require the Department of the Interior to hold competitive geothermal lease sales every year (instead of every two years), to offer most nominated parcels for leasing, and to run replacement sales when sales are cancelled or delayed. It also creates firm timelines and procedural steps for Interior to process geothermal drilling permit applications, including quick completeness notices and short decision deadlines once application requirements are met. The bill shortens and formalizes leasing and permitting schedules to speed development of geothermal energy by requiring Interior to offer at least 75% of nominated parcels and by imposing specific notice, response, and decision deadlines for permit applications, with limited opportunities for agency deferrals tied to NEPA timelines.