Congress funds $150M geothermal research push, including U.S. territories

What it does

This bill directs the Department of Energy to establish a comprehensive research and development program for next-generation geothermal energy systems, including enhanced geothermal systems, closed-loop geothermal systems, and supercritical geothermal technologies. It authorizes $150 million annually through 2031 for research, demonstration projects, workforce development, and commercial-readiness grants, while requiring the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct quadrennial assessments of geothermal potential including U.S. territories.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is a straightforward authorization of federal R&D funding and program establishment for next-generation geothermal technologies. It is a public investment in energy infrastructure and workforce development, not a tax carve-out, subsidy to named entities, or deregulation.

What the text implies

• The bill's focus on supercritical geothermal and closed-loop systems in diverse geological conditions, including U.S. territories, may accelerate geothermal deployment in regions previously considered unviable, potentially reshaping regional energy markets and reducing reliance on fossil fuels in island and remote communities.
• Mandatory data sharing and public repository requirements (subsection 614(h)) create a commons of subsurface geological data from federal and private projects, which may lower barriers to entry for smaller geothermal developers and research institutions but could also expose proprietary drilling and resource data.
• The 80% federal cost-share cap for commercial-readiness grants (subsection 615(e)(5)(D)) incentivizes private-sector matching investment, potentially concentrating benefits among well-capitalized firms able to fund the remaining 20%, while smaller or early-stage companies may struggle to participate.
• Quadrennial geothermal resource assessments (amended section 2501) create a rolling federal inventory of geothermal potential, which may inform future permitting, leasing, and development decisions on federal lands, potentially accelerating or constraining development depending on regulatory follow-through.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill funds clean energy research and development that diversifies the nation's energy portfolio, supports workforce development in emerging energy sectors, and advances technologies that may reduce water consumption and expand geothermal viability to diverse geological regions including U.S. territories. No direct costs to citizens are imposed; benefits accrue through expanded energy options and job creation.

Who stands to gain

• geothermal energy companies and equipment manufacturers
• institutions of higher education and National Laboratories receiving research grants
• private-sector entities partnering in public-private partnerships
• hardrock drilling equipment and component suppliers
• fiber optic sensing and data acquisition technology providers

Named in the bill

Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Geothermal Technologies Office, Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, National Laboratories, FORGE sites (Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy), House Committee on Natural Resources, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Democrats.

• May 13, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• May 13, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on Natural Resources and House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology · Congress.gov: “Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Natural…”
• May 20, 2026 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• May 20, 2026 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote”
• Jul 20, 2026 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4667-4668)”
• Jul 20, 2026 — Floor vote scheduled · Congress.gov: “Mr. Babin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

5 lobbying clients named this bill on 5 disclosure filings across 1 quarter, Jun 2026 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $17,640,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 15 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 78% of bills with at least one filing.

Pat Harrigan, the sponsor, reported $403,925 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• Chamber of Commerce of the U.S.A. — $16,950,000 on 1 filing
• Cornell University — $360,000 on 1 filing
• Salt River Project — $250,000 on 1 filing
• Advanced Environmental Monitoring Holdings (aemh) — $60,000 on 1 filing
• Placer County Water Agency — $20,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.