The House has passed two bills aimed at facilitating access to geothermal energy for on-demand clean power generation. These measures, the CLEAN Act and the HEATS Act, seek to eliminate many federal permitting hurdles that currently complicate the establishment of geothermal power plants, which harness energy from the Earth’s deep, boiling-hot rocks.
Remarkably, both bills gained bipartisan support, with all Republicans backing them. Additionally, 18 Democrats supported the HEATS Act, while 31 voted in favor of the CLEAN Act.
House approves bipartisan geothermal energy bills to simplify clean power generation processes
If they pass the Senate, these bills could spark a new wave of geothermal drilling, contributing to the broader clean energy transition, especially as wind and solar power remain intermittent energy sources.
According to the Department of Energy under the Biden administration, an investment of $25 billion in geothermal energy could trigger a wave of innovation, potentially powering millions of U.S. homes.
Representative Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), sponsor of the CLEAN Act, expressed optimism, stating that geothermal energy has the potential to provide reliable, clean energy while reducing dependence on foreign adversaries.
Fulcher highlighted that most of America’s geothermal resources lie within federal lands in the West. The CLEAN Act would mandate the Department of the Interior to hold annual geothermal lease auctions and ensure timely responses to applicants, all within 30 days.
Just days before, the HEATS Act, proposed by Republican Reps. Young Kim and John Duarte from California, passed. This legislation would exempt new geothermal wells from certain federal regulations if less than half of their footprint is on federal land.
Specifically, it would exclude geothermal projects from compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, which contributed to some Democrats voting against it.
Kim defended the bill by highlighting a discrepancy in federal policy: while geothermal energy extraction closely mirrors oil and gas drilling, geothermal projects face more stringent permitting requirements than the oil and gas industry, which she argued is counterproductive to clean energy goals.
Kim also pointed out that California, a major geothermal producer, has untapped resources but that federal permitting and state regulations have hindered progress in utilizing this clean energy potential.
While supporters of the bills are enthusiastic about the potential benefits, critics warn that loosening regulations could lead to environmental damage. The shale boom, driven by less stringent environmental oversight, caused harm to ecosystems and communities, raising concerns that faster geothermal development could result in similar consequences.
Additionally, some environmentalists remain wary of the oil and gas sector’s heavy involvement in geothermal energy development, fearing that it may shift the focus away from truly sustainable practices.
Advocates of geothermal energy, however, caution against slowing its progress or excluding fossil fuel involvement entirely. Jamie Beard, of the nonpartisan geothermal advocacy group Project InnerSpace, argued that quick action is necessary to prevent geothermal energy from becoming mired in legal disputes and to avoid missing an opportunity to combat climate change.
Beard emphasized the importance of bipartisan collaboration, pointing out that both parties are focused on energy independence and addressing grid strain. She concluded that geothermal energy offers an ideal opportunity to leverage American industry and technology to solve global challenges.
