A bill to expedite processing of geothermal-project lease applications by setting a 60-day deadline for the Department of the Interior (DOI) to process such applications has been reintroduced in the House. However, the head of a group seeking to advance geothermal energy says the effort to quickly process geothermal lease applications will likely be negatively impacted if federal-workforce reductions sought by the Trump administration are imposed on the DOI.

H.R. 301—the Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act, also known as the GEO Act—was introduced by Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-Utah) on Jan. 9, 2025 and was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.

The bill seeks to amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to establish a deadline for processing applications related to geothermal leasing, and says “Notwithstanding the existence of any pending civil action that affects an application for a geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or any other authorization under a valid existing geothermal lease,” the DOI shall, “approve and issue, or deny,” each application not later than 60 days after completing all requirements under applicable federal laws and regulations.

However, the approval or denial of such a lease application shall depend in part if a “federal court vacates or provides injunctive relief” for such an application, the bill says.

In a written statement, Maloy says Utah, her home state, “is a prime location to invest and develop in geothermal energy” and “Beaver County, Utah is home to one of the largest geothermal projects in the nation.”

However, Maloy blames “bureaucratic red tape” for regularly delaying such projects. “My bill will enable us to produce geothermal energy more quickly in Utah and beyond as we seek to secure U.S. energy independence,” her statement says.

H.R. 301 is nearly identical to a bill introduced during the 118th Congress. That bill—H.R. 7370—was introduced in the House on Feb. 15, 2024 by former House member John R. Curtis (R-Utah), who is now a senator.

H.R. 7370 was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources., and was eventually reported to the full House where, on Sept. 24, 2024 it was approved to be reported to the Senate as H. Rept. 118-561. In the Senate, the bill was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, but no further action was taken. The bill died in committee when the 118th Congress adjourned.

The current bill—H.R. 301—is endorsed by Geothermal Rising, a geothermal energy advocacy group, but even if approved by both houses of Congress and signed into law by the president, the ability of DOI to meet the 60-day deadline would likely be impacted if the current effort to reduce the federal workforce affects DOI and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), said Bryant Jones, executive director of Geothermal Rising.

In 2024, Jones testified before the Committee on Natural Resources on H.R. 7370, and he recently told The Driller it is up to the geothermal community, including drillers, to reach out to their members of Congress to encourage passage of the GEO Act.

Furthermore, if the GEO Act is passed, the geothermal community needs to encourage BLM “be appropriately staffed so that they can process geothermal leases on federal land,” said Jones, who added that orders in legislation such as the GEO Act have more impact on sectors such as geothermal rather than regulations produced by the federal agencies.

Click here to read H.R. 301