Geothermal Ombudsman for National Deployment and Optimal Reviews Act
Sponsored By: Representative Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3]
In Committee
Summary
Streamline geothermal permitting at the Bureau of Land Management. This bill would create a Geothermal Ombudsman and a Geothermal Permitting Task Force to resolve disputes, coordinate field offices, and push consistent permitting practices.
Show full summary
- Families and developers applying for geothermal projects would get a single point of contact and dispute resolution services, and the bill would require the Secretary to appoint the Ombudsman within 60 days after enactment.
- BLM and Department staff would face cross-office personnel assignments to speed authorizations, with assigned employees required to work in-person full time and eligible for retention allowances of up to 25 percent of basic pay when needed to keep expertise in place.
- Federal coordination and oversight would increase through required liaison work with the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council and an annual report to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee describing task force activities and permit processing performance.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Retention bonuses for geothermal permitting staff
If Congress funds it, the Ombudsman could pay a retention allowance to employees assigned to geothermal permitting. The allowance would be up to 25% of basic pay, paid with regular pay, and would not count toward basic pay. The Ombudsman would weigh expertise, performance needs, and hiring difficulty, and the allowance could be reduced or ended without appeal.
BLM ombudsman and task force for geothermal permits
This bill would create a Geothermal Ombudsman at BLM and a Geothermal Permitting Task Force within 60 days of enactment. The Ombudsman would coordinate across BLM offices, resolve disputes with applicants, track permit timelines, and write best practices. The Task Force could deploy skilled staff to help finish permits, with home office approval and only if it would not delay other work. The Ombudsman would work with the federal permitting council and send Congress a yearly report on results. The bill would define which public‑land projects and permits are covered.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3]
CO • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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