PASSED: Lee and Steel’s Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Unleash American Geothermal Energy Passes House

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Susie Lee’s (NV-03) bipartisan, bicameral bill (H.R.6474) to expedite geothermal exploration and development passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation cuts government red tape by giving geothermal projects the same flexibility to explore and develop on previously disturbed or studied public lands that the oil and gas industry has had for nearly two decades. That means clean energy projects will be on a more level playing field while creating jobs, cutting emissions, and reducing foreign energy dependence. 

Congresswoman Lee championed this legislation with Congresswoman Michelle Steel (R-CA-45) in the House and Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in the Senate. 

Nevada is already the second-largest producer of geothermal in the country, but government red tape is getting in the way of truly maximizing Nevada’s — and the nation’s — abundant resources with next-generation geothermal technology.  

Nevada is now home to the country’s first enhanced geothermal plant, “Project Red,” the result of a partnership between Google and Fervo Energy — which is actively producing carbon-free energy to power Google Cloud operations in Las Vegas as well as data centers across the state. The U.S. Department of Energy has found that enhanced geothermal systems such as Project Red could extend geothermal energy production nationwide and affordably power the equivalent of more than 65 million U.S. homes.  

“If we want to fully unleash our renewable energy potential, then we need to cut the red tape that has been a barrier to the growth of geothermal energy development,” said Congresswoman Lee. “I want to thank Congresswoman Steel for partnering on this commonsense, bipartisan bill to strengthen energy independence and help lower costs for the working families we represent.” 

“Geothermal energy is a vital tool to make America more energy independent and less reliant on our adversaries. This legislation will provide a cleaner energy future and allow my home state of California to seize the reins as a leading national energy provider,” said Congresswoman Michelle Steel. “I was honored to work with Representative Susie Lee to successfully pass this legislation through the House of Representatives and look forward to its passage in the Senate.” 

“The common-sense improvements to geothermal leasing and permitting passed by the U.S. House of Representatives will help expedite geothermal exploration,” said Tim Latimer, Co-Founder and CEO, Fervo Energy. “Thank you to Representatives Michelle Steel (R-CA) and Susie Lee (D-NV) for leading on this critical issue. We urge the U.S. Senate to pass similar improvements - like those in the Energy Permitting Reform Act -- which the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee advanced on a 15-4 bipartisan vote.” 

Congresswoman Lee has made cutting government red tape a priority — in March, she sent a letter to Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland calling for the Department to reduce barriers to geothermal projects. Lee is also leading bipartisan legislation to cut red tape that is slowing down housing, infrastructure, conservation, and other projects on public lands, which passed the House in July and was endorsed by Republican Governor Joe Lombardo. 

###