STEAM Act
Sponsored By: Senator Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Introduced
Summary
Expedites geothermal exploration and development by adding geothermal activities under the Geothermal Steam Act to the list of resources covered by National Environmental Policy Act reviews. This change brings geothermal into the same NEPA review language now used for oil and gas.
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- Developers: Makes it clearer that geothermal projects can reuse previously studied or developed sites because geothermal is explicitly added alongside gas in the Energy Policy Act amendment. This should speed permitting in those areas.
- Federal NEPA reviewers: Requires NEPA reviews to address geothermal under the Geothermal Steam Act, aligning review triggers and scope with existing gas procedures.
- Local communities and stakeholders: Keeps NEPA oversight in place so environmental review still occurs, while likely increasing the pace of geothermal activity in areas already evaluated.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More environmental review for geothermal projects
This bill would add the Geothermal Steam Act to the laws covered by NEPA review for exploration and development. Federal agencies would treat geothermal like oil and gas when deciding whether to prepare environmental analyses. Developers pursuing geothermal projects on federal land would face extra NEPA steps, paperwork, and possible delays. Local and rural communities would get more environmental review and more chances to comment. The change would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
NV • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]
AK • R
Sponsored 2/6/2025
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 3/27/2025
John Hoeven
ND • R
Sponsored 4/8/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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