Sponsors (2)
The bill directs USGS studies, mapping, safety assessments, and biennial reporting to support geothermal/EGS development in Puerto Rico—boosting safety, planning, and local research opportunities—while imposing federal costs, risking project delays from required assessments, and potentially changing statutory program language.
Puerto Rico residents (especially in rural/karst areas) and nearby communities gain explicit groundwater‑vulnerability and seismic assessments that identify public‑health and safety risks from geothermal/EGS development.
Puerto Rico residents, utilities, and energy developers get high‑resolution geothermal maps and data to identify potential conventional geothermal and enhanced geothermal system (EGS) resources, supporting local clean‑energy development and grid diversification.
Local and state governments and planners receive biennial reports on status, coordination, and next steps, giving officials improved information to guide energy siting, land‑use, and permitting decisions.
Federal taxpayers face additional costs to fund new USGS studies and recurring biennial reporting for Puerto Rico without a specified dedicated funding source.
Utilities, energy companies, and permitting authorities may see geothermal and EGS projects delayed if site assessments identify groundwater or seismic issues that require extra studies or mitigation.
State and territorial governments could be affected by statutory language changes (removing Puerto Rico from a subsection) that may alter authorities or program priorities unless other provisions remain unchanged.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires USGS (with DOE and Puerto Rico partners) to assess geothermal and enhanced geothermal resources, groundwater vulnerability, and seismic hazards and to report biennially to Congress.
Official title: To amend the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct certain geothermal assessments for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Introduced September 3, 2026 by Pablo José Hernández · Last progress September 3, 2026
Directs the U.S. Geological Survey, working with the Department of Energy and Puerto Rico officials and universities, to carry out a comprehensive assessment of geothermal and enhanced geothermal energy resources in Puerto Rico. The law requires high-resolution maps and geospatial data, groundwater-vulnerability and seismic (including induced seismicity) hazard assessments, and biennial status reports to relevant congressional committees starting within one year of enactment and continuing every two years until the study is finished. Changes an existing Energy Policy Act statutory provision to add this USGS assessment requirement and adjusts subsection numbering to accommodate the new text.