Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act
Sponsored By: Representative Fulcher
In Committee
Summary
Streamlines geothermal exploration on Federal lands. This bill would create a new, disclosures-based category for short-term geothermal exploration projects on leased Federal land and set limits to speed approvals. It would also establish priority leasing areas and narrow when new NEPA reviews are required.
Show full summary
- Developers and leaseholders: Sets tight size and time limits for exploratory wells and related work, including projects completed in under 180 days and restoration within 3 years, so small, short-term drilling can move faster under lease-holder control.
- Federal review and permitting: Treats these exploration projects and certain covered activities as not being major Federal actions under NEPA and lets programmatic environmental documents cover lease sales for about 10 years unless new impacts appear, so agencies may avoid repeat NEPA studies.
- Land planning and communities: Requires the Secretary, with the Energy Secretary, to designate Geothermal Leasing Priority Areas within 3 years and to review those designations every 5 years while consulting States, Tribes, local governments, transmission owners, and developers.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Faster geothermal exploration on leases
If enacted, small geothermal exploration on existing federal leases would follow a simple notice process. The leaseholder would give the Secretary 30 days’ notice before drilling. Wells would be limited to a last casing under 13 3/8 inches and surface disturbance under 8 acres at one time, not counting access roads. Projects would finish within 180 days and the site would be restored within 3 years unless it becomes an energy site. Road work and surveys tied to the project would count as covered activities. These projects would not be treated as major Federal actions under NEPA.
Faster leasing in geothermal priority areas
If enacted, Interior would map priority areas for geothermal leasing on federal land within 3 years. Interior would consult Energy, states, Tribes, local governments, and grid owners, and review the areas at least every 5 years. A program-level environmental review or supplement would be done within 1 year of the first designations. For 10 years after that program review, lease sales in those areas would usually not need new NEPA studies unless new risks appear; after 10 years, Interior could rely on a rechecked program review. Interior could not delay permits or lease sales because a required supplement is not yet final.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Fulcher
ID • R
Cosponsors
Maloy
UT • R
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Kennedy (UT)
UT • R
Sponsored 11/21/2025
Begich
AK • R
Sponsored 12/15/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.govTake It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in