House BillHR 301Licensing and registrationsAlternative and renewable resources
GEO Act
INTRO JAN 9· LAST ACTION MAY 20
READING
3MIN
COSPONSORS
7BIPARTISAN
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
Reported, not passed
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 3 / 8
Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-written
This bill matters because it attempts to directly influence the pace of geothermal energy development in the United States. If passed, it could significantly streamline the approval process for geothermal projects on federal lands by setting a firm deadline for agency decisions, even when projects are challenged in court. This could lead to faster expansion of geothermal energy, which is a renewable power source, potentially boosting domestic energy production and contributing to climate goals.
However, it also shifts the balance between expediting energy projects and allowing for thorough legal and environmental review. By requiring agencies to proceed with decisions despite ongoing lawsuits (unless a court grants an injunction), it could be seen as prioritizing speed over the potential for extended scrutiny. Voters should care because it represents a policy choice about how quickly we want to develop renewable energy sources and what role legal challenges should play in that process.
KEY PROVISIONS
5AI-extracted
PROVISION 01
Requires the Secretary to approve or deny applications related to geothermal leasing and permits within 60 days.
This establishes a firm deadline for government action, aiming to reduce administrative delays in geothermal energy development.
PROVISION 02
This 60-day deadline applies even if there is an ongoing civil lawsuit challenging the application or the underlying lease.
It prevents lawsuits alone from indefinitely halting the administrative processing of geothermal permits and authorizations.
PROVISION 03
The 60-day clock only starts after all other federal legal and regulatory requirements, including environmental reviews like NEPA and ESA, have been completed.
This ensures that environmental and other mandated reviews are still conducted thoroughly before a final decision is made.
PROVISION 04
The requirement to process within 60 days is waived if a federal court specifically stops or cancels the applicable geothermal lease, permit, or authorization.
This preserves the ultimate authority of federal courts to intervene and halt projects when necessary through specific orders.
PROVISION 05
Clarifies that the bill does not grant federal courts any new authority to vacate or provide injunctive relief for geothermal projects.
This ensures the bill does not implicitly expand judicial power beyond its current scope related to geothermal projects.
This bill matters because it attempts to directly influence the pace of geothermal energy development in the United States. If passed, it could significantly streamline the approval process for geothermal projects on federal lands by setting a firm deadline for agency decisions, even when projects are challenged in court. This could lead to faster expansion of geothermal energy, which is a renewable power source, potentially boosting domestic energy production and contributing to climate goals.
However, it also shifts the balance between expediting energy projects and allowing for thorough legal and environmental review. By requiring agencies to proceed with decisions despite ongoing lawsuits (unless a court grants an injunction), it could be seen as prioritizing speed over the potential for extended scrutiny. Voters should care because it represents a policy choice about how quickly we want to develop renewable energy sources and what role legal challenges should play in that process.
KEY PROVISIONS
AI-extracted
high
Requires the Secretary to approve or deny applications related to geothermal leasing and permits within 60 days.
This establishes a firm deadline for government action, aiming to reduce administrative delays in geothermal energy development.
high
This 60-day deadline applies even if there is an ongoing civil lawsuit challenging the application or the underlying lease.
It prevents lawsuits alone from indefinitely halting the administrative processing of geothermal permits and authorizations.
med
The 60-day clock only starts after all other federal legal and regulatory requirements, including environmental reviews like NEPA and ESA, have been completed.
This ensures that environmental and other mandated reviews are still conducted thoroughly before a final decision is made.
med
The requirement to process within 60 days is waived if a federal court specifically stops or cancels the applicable geothermal lease, permit, or authorization.
This preserves the ultimate authority of federal courts to intervene and halt projects when necessary through specific orders.
low
Clarifies that the bill does not grant federal courts any new authority to vacate or provide injunctive relief for geothermal projects.
This ensures the bill does not implicitly expand judicial power beyond its current scope related to geothermal projects.
Not later than 60 days after completing all requirements under applicable Federal laws and regulations.
The Secretary must approve and issue, or deny, each geothermal application.
GLOSSARY
AI-written
Geothermal Steam Act of 1970
A federal law that allows the U.S. government to lease federal lands to companies for the development of energy from underground heat sources.
Geothermal leasing
The process by which the government grants rights to companies to explore, develop, and produce energy from the Earth's internal heat on federal land.
Civil action
A lawsuit brought in a court to protect or enforce private rights, often between private individuals or organizations, or between a private party and the government.
Injunctive relief
A court order that legally requires a person or entity to either do or stop doing a specific action. In this context, it could mean a court ordering a geothermal project to stop.
Sundry notice
An administrative form submitted to a federal agency to report minor operational changes, new activities, or other notifications related to a lease or permit, commonly used in energy development.
Right-of-way
A legal right to pass over or use another's land for a specific purpose, such as for pipelines, access roads, or power lines associated with a geothermal project.
Authorization
ACTION TIMELINE
15 EVENTS
MAY 20
Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-654.
COMMITTEE
MAY 20
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 568.
CALENDARS
MAR 5
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
A general term for any license, permit, approval, or other administrative decision from a federal agency that is required by law to site, construct, or operate a geothermal project.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
A fundamental U.S. environmental law that requires federal agencies to assess the environmental impacts of their proposed actions before making decisions.
