Geothermal fast-track: less environmental review, faster permits
H.R. 1077 — STEAM Act · Filed by Susie Lee (D-NV) · 5 cosponsors · Introduced Feb 6, 2025 · Reported out
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What it does
This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to streamline environmental review (NEPA) for geothermal energy exploration and development in areas that have already been studied or developed. It modifies Section 390 to treat geothermal resources similarly to oil and gas in the permitting process, potentially allowing faster project approval in previously disturbed areas.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a targeted NEPA exemption carve-out for geothermal development in previously studied areas, modeled on existing oil/gas treatment. It is not a broad deregulation but a sector-specific procedural acceleration.
What the text implies
- The bill does not define 'previously studied or developed areas' — that definition lives in Section 390(a) and (b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which this analysis cannot fully evaluate. The scope of the exemption depends entirely on how those cited provisions are interpreted by the Department of Interior.
- By inserting 'or the' after 'Geothermal Steam Act of 1970,' the bill may create ambiguity about which statute governs the exemption, potentially leading to litigation over the proper regulatory framework.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
geothermal energy developers and operators; renewable energy project companies; engineering and construction firms specializing in geothermal