WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher (Idaho-01) re-introduced the Committing Leases for Energy Access Now (CLEAN) Act, legislation that passed the House of Representatives in the 118th Congress on a bipartisan basis.
The bill is part of a broader effort by House Republicans to increase domestic power production and diversify the United States’ energy portfolio to meet growing demand.
Congressman Fulcher stated, “Geothermal has the potential to be an energy giant for America. However, nearly 90% of our nation’s geothermal resources are located on federally managed lands, which have been historically mismanaged. I am proud to reintroduce the CLEAN Act to ensure the Department of Interior holds frequent lease sale opportunities to allow for the exploration and development of this clean energy resource. I look forward to working with my House and Senate colleagues to deliver this legislation to President Trump’s desk.”
According to the Department of Energy, the United States leads the world in geothermal electricity-generating capacity—just over 4 gigawatts. That’s enough to power the equivalent of about 3 million U.S. homes.
Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman added, “Unleashing America’s energy dominance requires all-of-the-above solutions, including geothermal. Thanks to Congressman Fulcher’s CLEAN Act, America can reduce our reliance on adversarial nations and tap into homegrown resources to meet skyrocketing energy demands. I want to thank him for his leadership and his continued work on energy issues across the country.”
The legislation is supported by Fervo Energy, a geothermal-focused stakeholder group working to provide carbon-free energy around the clock.
Background
Idaho plays a leading role in geothermal energy production. The City of Boise is home to the nation’s first geothermal district heating system, established in 1892. The system supplies naturally heated water through over 20 miles of pipeline, heating more than 6 million square feet of building space, including the Idaho State Capitol—the only geothermally heated capitol building in the U.S.
To begin developing geothermal resources on federally controlled lands, projects must first obtain a lease, making consistent lease sales crucial to the expansion of this energy source. The lack of geothermal leasing and the slow permitting process results in timelines longer than many other energy projects.
The CLEAN Act amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to:
- Require yearly lease sales for geothermal energy;
- Require the Secretary to hold replacement lease sales for any sales that are missed in a given calendar year.
