CLEAN Act
Click any stage to learn more about the legislative process.
The CLEAN Act would require the Interior Department to hold geothermal energy lease sales at least once a year, instead of once every two years, in states with pending nominations of federal land.
It would also require replacement sales if a sale is canceled or delayed, set minimum offering quotas for nominated parcels, and impose new deadlines for deciding geothermal drilling permit applications, aiming to speed up geothermal development on federal land.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to require the Interior Department to hold geothermal lease sales annually, rather than every two years, in states with pending nominations of federal land for geothermal leasing. If a scheduled sale is canceled or delayed, Interior would have to hold a replacement sale that same year. At each sale, Interior would have to offer at least 75 percent of eligible nominated parcels, and the remaining 25 percent unless it provides a written justification for withholding them. The bill would also set deadlines for reviewing geothermal drilling permit applications: Interior would have 30 days to notify an applicant whether an application is complete, another 30 days to issue or defer a permit decision once complete, and 10 days to decide after an applicant addresses any deficiencies. It does not change leasing rules for other energy sources or federal land uses.
Key provisions
- 1Would require Interior to hold geothermal lease sales at least once a year, rather than every two years, in states with pending nominations
- 2Would require a replacement lease sale in the same year if a scheduled sale is canceled or delayed
- 3Would require Interior to offer at least 75 percent of eligible nominated parcels at each sale, plus the remaining 25 percent absent written justification
- 4Would require Interior to notify applicants within 30 days whether a geothermal drilling permit application is complete
- 5Would require Interior to issue or defer a permit decision within 30 days of a complete application, and decide within 10 days after deficiencies are resolved
Who would be affected
The Department of the Interior, which administers geothermal leasing; companies and developers seeking geothermal leases or drilling permits on federal land; and states with federal land nominated for geothermal development, particularly in the western United States where most geothermal resources are located.
Why it matters
Faster, more frequent lease sales and firm permitting deadlines could speed up geothermal energy development by giving companies more predictable access to federal land and quicker regulatory decisions. Slower reviews or infrequent sales have been cited as obstacles to expanding geothermal power, so these changes could shorten project timelines for developers.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1003(b)) (Sec. 2(a))
Changes the required lease sale interval from every two years to annually and adds replacement-sale and parcel-offering requirements
Amends Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1003) (Sec. 2(b))
Adds new deadlines requiring Interior to review and decide on geothermal drilling permit applications within specified timeframes
Agencies directed to act
How implementation would work
Interior would need to identify states with pending geothermal lease nominations and shift its sale schedule to an annual cycle, holding makeup sales in the same year if one is canceled or delayed. For each sale, the agency must track nominated parcels and document any decision to withhold more than 25 percent of them from a sale. For drilling permits, Interior would need internal tracking systems to meet the 30-day completeness review, 30-day decision deadline, and 10-day deadline after deficiencies are cured, coordinating with National Environmental Policy Act review timelines where applicable.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to increase the frequency of lease sales for developing and utilizing geothermal energy on federal land.
Specifically, Interior must hold lease sales at least once a year (rather than two years) in states with pending nominations of federal land to be leased for geothermal energy development.
In conducting such lease sales, Interior must offer all of the pending nominated parcels eligible for geothermal development and utilization under the resource management plan in effect for the state.
If a lease sale is canceled or delayed, Interior must conduct a replacement sale during the same year.
Finally, the bill establishes deadlines for Interior to respond to applications for geothermal drilling permits.
Legislative subjects
Alternative and renewable resources; Electric power generation and transmission; Energy; Land transfers; Mining
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-657