H.R. 5631

Geothermal Energy Advancement Act

Sponsor: Jeff Hurd · 5 cosponsors

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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Geothermal Ombudsman for National Deployment and Optimal Reviews Act

This bill establishes a geothermal ombudsman and task force to oversee geothermal project permitting and authorizations on federal land.

The Department of the Interior must appoint a geothermal ombudsman from within the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The ombudsman must act as a liaison among different parts of BLM, provide dispute resolution services between BLM and geothermal project applicants, and facilitate permit processing in different BLM field offices regarding geothermal projects on federal land.

The ombudsman must also lead the Geothermal Permitting Task Force established by this bill. The task force must support the ombudsman’s duties. Through the task force, the ombudsman may reassign employees from other Interior bureaus or offices to assist in the completion of geothermal authorizations. The ombudsman may pay a retention allowance to reassigned employees. 

Text of the bill

Expand all
Sec. 3. Cost recovery from geothermal leasing, permitting, and inspections Added Jun 2

Where this section came from

Not in the first version (Introduced in House, Sep 30).

  1. Jun 2, 2026 · Engrossed in House

Section 6 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1005) is amended by adding at the end the following:

Text this section adds to the law

(j) Cost recovery

(1) In general. During the period that begins on the date of enactment of this subsection and ends September 30, 2033, the Secretary may require an applicant for, or a holder of, a geothermal lease to reimburse the United States for all reasonable administrative and other costs incurred by the United States from—

(A) processing the application for the geothermal lease, including any application for an operations plan, geothermal drilling permit, utilization plan, site license, facility construction permit, commercial use permit, and any other approval associated with a geothermal lease; and

(B) inspecting and monitoring—

(i) geophysical exploration activities;

(ii) the drilling, plugging, and abandonment of wells; and

(iii) the construction, operation, termination, and reclamation of any well site or facility for the utilization of geothermal resources pursuant to the geothermal lease.

(2) Considerations. In determining whether to require reimbursement under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider whether there is in existence a cooperative cost share agreement between the United States and the holder of a geothermal lease.

(3) Adjustments. The Secretary may reduce the amount to be reimbursed under paragraph (1) if the Secretary determines—

(A) that full reimbursement would impose an economic hardship on the applicant; or

(B) that a less than full reimbursement is necessary to promote the greatest use of geothermal resources.

(4) Use. The amounts reimbursed under this subsection shall be credited to the currently applicable appropriation, account, or fund of the Department of the Interior as discretionary offsetting collections, and shall be available only to the extent provided in advance in appropriations Acts for—

(A) processing the application for geothermal leases, including any application for operations plans, geothermal drilling permits, utilization plans, site licenses, facility construction permits, commercial use permits, and any other approval associated with geothermal leases; and

(B) inspecting and monitoring—

(i) geophysical exploration activities;

(ii) the drilling, plugging, and abandonment of wells; and

(iii) the construction, operation, termination, and reclamation of any well site or facility for the utilization of geothermal resources pursuant to geothermal leases.