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Supports development of very deep, high-temperature geothermal energy by funding research, field testing, mapping, monitoring, workforce training, and permitting assistance. It defines key geothermal terms (including temperature thresholds for “superhot” and “supercritical”), directs the Department of Energy to run grant and demonstration programs, requires the USGS to map deep basement rocks and monitor groundwater and seismic risks, sets up a Labor Department training partnership with colleges, and funds technical experts to help BLM and Forest Service speed authorizations. The bill targets the specialized area of hot dry rock and next-generation geothermal systems, authorizes multiyear funding (FY2027–2031) for DOE programs and specific annual funding levels for USGS research, workforce training, and permitting-assistance support, and prioritizes eligible recipients such as national labs, universities, and private entities for awards and demonstrations.
The bill accelerates commercialization of engineered hot dry rock geothermal—potentially delivering cleaner, cheaper domestic power and jobs—while increasing federal spending and concentrating technical, environmental, and participation risks that could leave some regions, communities, and noncitiz
Electricity consumers and the general public could get more domestic, low‑emission baseload power as engineered hot dry rock geothermal is advanced and commercialized.
Households and businesses could see lower long‑term electricity prices and greater energy security from increased domestic geothermal generation.
U.S. workers and companies (drilling, sensors, geothermal tech) could gain new private‑sector contracts and jobs as the industry grows.
Workers (especially from oil and gas) and students can access paid training, apprenticeships, and college partnerships to build transferrable geothermal and engineering skills.
Taxpayers face increased federal spending and financial risk from multiple new programs and authorizations funded by annual appropriations and grants.
Private companies may capture a large share of grants and commercialization benefits, concentrating profits and leaving taxpayers exposed to project failures or cost overruns.
Local communities near deep geothermal testing and development could face environmental and safety risks (induced seismicity, groundwater contamination or depletion, drilling disruptions).
Narrow technical and temperature‑based definitions may exclude many geothermal approaches and concentrate development in a few regions, leaving other areas with fewer local investments and jobs.
Defines “geothermal energy” by reference to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, specifically 26 U.S.C. § 45(c)(4).
Defines “geothermal reservoir” as an underground reservoir containing a geothermal resource or deposit, including reservoirs with native, inflowing, or injected fluids.
Defines “hot dry rock” to mean a superhot or supercritical geothermal resource located in rocks with little to no natural permeability.
Defines “hot dry rock geothermal project” as the combined surface and subsurface facilities used to produce electricity or industrial heat from hot dry rock using a next-generation geothermal system.
Defines “next-generation geothermal system” as a geothermal reservoir system that is engineered rather than naturally occurring.
Who is affected and how:
Scientists & Researchers: Directly affected through new federal research programs, mapping projects, and field test sites that expand data, funding, and collaboration opportunities for geothermal science, rock mechanics, and geothermal engineering.
Energy Workers: Job creation and retraining opportunities in high-temperature geothermal development, including apprenticeships and classroom training; priority is given to workers transitioning from oil and gas and to union members.
Federal Employees: DOE, USGS, BLM, Forest Service, and Labor staff will gain new responsibilities, program management roles, and funding to implement research, mapping, monitoring, permitting assistance, and training programs.
Rural Communities and Local Governments: Communities sitting above deep geothermal resources may benefit from local investment, jobs, and potential energy projects; they may also experience site-specific impacts such as increased activity, noise, or concerns about induced seismicity and groundwater effects tied to testing and demonstrations.
Utilities & Energy Companies / Private Developers: Stand to benefit from improved resource information, funding opportunities, milestone awards, and faster permitting support for exploration and demonstration projects, lowering technical and regulatory barriers to deep geothermal deployment.
Positive impacts:
Risks and challenges:
Overall effect:
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced February 13, 2026 by Jake Auchincloss · Last progress February 13, 2026
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Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House