Illustration: Tiffany Herring/Axios
Geothermal energy could get faster permits under bipartisan legislation that the House passed Tuesday night.
Why it matters: Tapping the earth's heat can provide round-the-clock low-carbon power, particularly in the West. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is a big fan.
- The new crop of advanced geothermal companies wants lawmakers to ease the permitting process to treat its drilling more like that of oil and gas.
Driving the news: The House moved three bills by voice vote that could help do just that.
- One, from Rep. Michelle Steel, would offer expedited NEPA permits to geothermal projects in areas that have been previously studied or drilled.
- That would effectively give geothermal some parity with oil and gas, which already gets similar categorical exclusions.
- A bill from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would set up a cost recovery fee for geothermal leasing that would be used to fund the permitting process.
Zoom in: The House also passed Rep. John Curtis' GEO Act, which would set deadlines for Interior to process geothermal projects on federal land once the environmental permits are ready.
- Curtis and other lawmakers argue it would prevent the agency from delaying projects under threat of lawsuits from outside organizations.
- The BLM expressed some concerns with the bill during the committee process, but it ultimately got an easy path through the House.
Our thought bubble: These bills mirror provisions from the geothermal title of the Manchin-Barrasso permitting bill.
- The industry's asks have potential to become law, but it'll be a matter of priorities at the end of the year.
