A bipartisan group of lawmakers passed a bill in the House of Representatives that would boost geothermal energy production by increasing the frequency of lease sales.
The Commit Lease Now for Energy Access Act (CLEAN), passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to require the Department of the Interior (DOI) to make lease sales annually instead of every two years. It will be mandatory to do so.
Additionally, the bill aims to expedite the permitting process for lease sales by establishing a 30-day deadline for DOI to notify applicants if a permit is approved.
The bill also requires DOI to hold a replacement sale if a lease sale is canceled or missed.
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Heat exchanger for the binary geothermal system at the Blundell Geothermal Power Plant in Utah. (Jon G. Fuller/VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Democrats opposed to the bill argued that the 30-day deadline for lease approval does not give the Interior Department enough time to thoroughly analyze the project.
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The bill was approved on a bipartisan vote, securing the support of 213 Republicans and 31 Democrats.
Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) leaves the House Republican meeting at the Capitol Hill Club. (Bill Clark)
“Geothermal energy has tremendous potential to provide reliable, clean energy to millions of Americans,” Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), who introduced the bill, said in a statement. said.
“Nearly 90% of our nation's geothermal resources are on federally managed lands, so I introduced the Clean Act to free up these vital resources by eliminating bureaucracy and increasing leasing opportunities on federal lands. The legislation holds the Department of the Interior accountable and is key to boosting domestic energy production, reducing dependence on foreign adversaries, and meeting America's growing energy needs.”
Western leaders also praised the bill's passage.
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“Geothermal is a critical component of all of the energy strategies listed above,” said Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), chairman of the Western Caucus. “I am very pleased that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Clean Act earlier today to unlock the full potential of geothermal energy and encourage energy production on federal lands across the West. We applaud their leadership and are committed to addressing this important issue.” ”
