Sponsors (2)
The bill accelerates domestic geothermal R&D and commercialization to expand clean, baseload energy and strengthen energy security, but it requires notable federal spending and raises local environmental, permitting, and private‑sector proprietary and market‑distortion risks.
Residents and businesses: gain expanded access to clean, baseload geothermal power as federal R&D and demonstrations accelerate, helping diversify the grid and improve energy security.
Scientists, national labs, and private firms: receive new federal research funding and commercialization grants to speed development of drilling, materials, and reservoir technologies.
State and federal decision-makers and researchers: get improved public access to standardized geothermal data via a DOE repository and interagency MOUs, reducing duplication and improving planning.
Taxpayers: face increased federal spending obligations of up to about $150 million per year from FY2027–2031 to fund the program.
Rural communities and local governments: could experience increased local disruption, higher permitting demands, and environmental risks from expanded drilling and exploration for supercritical resources.
State, federal, tribal, and territorial authorities: will likely face greater permitting, coordination, and administrative burdens as federal activity and new drilling increase.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a next‑generation geothermal R&D program, expands statutory definitions, mandates data sharing and site studies, and authorizes $150M/year for FY2027–2031.
The legislation expands and updates federal geothermal research and development to support “next‑generation” systems, including enhanced, closed‑loop, and supercritical geothermal technologies. It revises statutory definitions, directs new data‑sharing and site‑selection studies, requires DOE to add machine‑learning tools to hydrothermal R&D, and creates new program structure and funding for testing, centers of excellence, and commercial‑readiness grants. The bill authorizes dedicated funding of $150 million per year for FY2027–2031 for next‑generation geothermal R&D, directs at least one FORGE site to support supercritical/next‑generation testing within a year, requires updated USGS geothermal assessments within two years, and expands interagency cooperation and public data repositories to accelerate technology development and commercialization.
Official title: Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act
Introduced May 13, 2026 by Pat Harrigan · Last progress July 21, 2026