§1028 Hot dry rock geothermal energy

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior must, through the U.S. Geological Survey and after talking with the Secretary of Energy, set up a joint government-private program to study and help use hot dry rock geothermal energy on public lands (as defined in 43 U.S.C. 1702(e)) and on lands managed by the Department of Agriculture, except lands withdrawn from geothermal leasing. Enhanced geothermal systems: see the meaning in 42 U.S.C. 17191. The program must find, pick, and classify areas across the country with high hot dry rock potential. It must create and share information on how to use those areas, including field test methods and ways to keep projects affordable and avoid environmental harm. The U.S. Geological Survey may make contracts or agreements with public or private groups to help carry out projects. The Secretary must also update the 2008 U.S. geothermal resource assessment to give higher-detail data for known hydrothermal and enhanced geothermal areas—improving temperature/depth resolution, estimating co-production of energy and minerals, adding data for underground thermal storage, and making high-resolution maps and induced-seismicity risk maps. To the extent possible, the work should be coordinated with state officials and universities to include Puerto Rico, Alaska, and Hawaii. Money as needed may be appropriated to do this.