Congress mandates annual geothermal leases, compresses environmental review
H.R. 1687 — Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act · Filed by Russ Fulcher (R-ID) · 4 cosponsors · Introduced Feb 27, 2025 · Passed chamber
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What it does
This bill amends the Geothermal Steam Act to require the federal government to hold geothermal lease sales every year (instead of at discretion), mandate replacement sales if any sale is canceled or delayed, and require the Interior Department to offer at least 75% of nominated parcels for lease unless it provides written justification. It also imposes strict 30-day deadlines for the Interior Department to review geothermal drilling permit applications and issue decisions, with a 10-day final deadline after applicants provide missing information.
Why we flagged it
The bill's operative mechanism is a mandatory annual leasing schedule and compressed permitting timelines designed to reduce regulatory friction and accelerate geothermal development on federal lands. The renewable-energy framing masks a deregulatory intent that benefits lease holders and drilling operators.
What the text implies
- The 75% mandatory lease offering removes discretionary environmental screening at the lease-nomination stage; the 25% carve-out requires written justification, shifting burden of proof from industry to regulators and creating litigation risk for Interior if justifications are challenged.
- The 30-day permit-review deadline is tighter than NEPA's standard 45-day deadline for environmental assessment; if NEPA review is not complete within 30 days, the bill requires deferral with a 10-day final deadline, effectively capping total review time and pressuring agencies to issue permits before full environmental analysis.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
geothermal energy developers and operators; oil and gas companies with geothermal divisions; drilling contractors and equipment suppliers