Lee, Begich Introduce Bill to Lower Energy Costs by Improving Next-Generation Geothermal Energy Development in Nevada and Nationwide
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03) and Congressman Nick Begich (AK-AL) introduced the Geothermal Power Opportunity with Expanded Regions (Geo POWER) Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at accelerating the development of next-generation geothermal energy projects and spurring the kind of large-scale geothermal electricity generation needed to meet surging demand and drive down costs. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) lead a companion bill in the Senate.
“Here in Nevada and across the nation, geothermal is a promising and proven 24/7 clean energy source with immense potential for further growth,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “This bipartisan bill will help lower energy costs and advance American energy independence by scaling and speeding up the development of both our state’s — and our country’s — vast geothermal resources. At a time when energy costs are increasing across the nation, we need to embrace an all-of-the-above approach to help bring down southern Nevadans’ utility bills — this legislation, and the home-grown energy it supports, will do just that.”
The Geo POWER Act establishes a new milestone-based demonstration program at the Department of Energy (DOE) to support innovative geothermal projects in regions with undeveloped or underdeveloped geothermal potential. By pairing federal support with private investment, the bill seeks to unlock reliable, affordable, and scalable clean energy nationwide.
“Geothermal energy has enormous, untapped potential to deliver reliable power across America,” said Congressman Nick Begich. “The Geo POWER Act will allow us to harness that potential by reducing risk, encouraging innovation, and expanding geothermal development into new regions, including in Alaska. By investing in innovation today, we can deliver affordable, dependable energy for American families in the long term.”
Next-generation geothermal technologies, such as enhanced geothermal systems, can generate clean electricity in a wide range of geologies, far beyond traditional geothermal hotspots like northern Nevada. According to the DOE, the U.S. contains more than five terawatts of geothermal resources — “enough to meet the electricity needs of the entire world.” However, high upfront costs and geological uncertainty have limited deployment.
The Geo POWER Act addresses these challenges by:
- Creating a new Milestone-Based Geothermal Demonstration Program at DOE.
- Awarding innovative financing to next-generation geothermal projects in low-permeability and impermeable reservoirs through a competitive process based on the achievement of technical and financial milestones.
- Prioritizing projects that:
- Are located in regions with limited or no current geothermal electricity generation, including projects on or near Tribal land.
- Support the collection and dissemination of data to characterize new resources and catalyze private investment.
- Involve new facilities with a capacity of at least 30 megawatts or advance innovations that enable commercial-scale generation of that size.
- Demonstrate high potential for attracting significant private sector investment.
- Requiring that DOE support at least three different proposals across at least three different states, involving at least three different project sponsors.
Nevada has been at the forefront of pioneering next-generation geothermal and is home to the country’s first enhanced geothermal plant, “Project Red.” This project was the result of a partnership between Google and Fervo Energy — and is actively producing carbon-free energy to power Google Cloud operations in Las Vegas and across the state.
Geothermal power provides consistent, around-the-clock electricity, strengthening grid reliability while lowering long-term energy costs. Next-generation geothermal technology promises to broaden geothermal energy production — both within Nevada, from the northern half to the southern half of the state, and throughout the country.
Beyond the Geo POWER Act, Congresswoman Lee currently champions three additional geothermal bills — the STEAM Act, as well as the CLEAN Act and GEO Act. All three bills have passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee with unanimous support and are awaiting consideration by the full House of Representatives. She is also an original cosponsor of the Energy Bills Relief Act, legislation to help lower utility costs by expanding Nevadans’ and Americans’ access to cheaper, cleaner energy, including geothermal and solar.
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