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H. R. 301 To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to establish a deadline for processing applications related to geothermal leasing.
Summary
The Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to require the Department of Interior to approve or deny applications for geothermal leases and related authorizations within 60 days of completing all applicable environmental and regulatory reviews. The deadline applies even if lawsuits challenging the lease are pending, unless a federal court has blocked the authorization. The bill preserves existing court authority to vacate or block geothermal leases through judicial action. The 60-day requirement covers drilling permits, rights-of-way, notices to proceed, and other authorizations needed to operate existing geothermal leases.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2] (R-UT)
7 cosponsors
Actions (9)
- May 20, 2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 568. · house
- May 20, 2026 Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-654. · house
- Mar 5, 2026 Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent. · house
- Mar 5, 2026 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
- Mar 5, 2026 Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged · house
- Dec 16, 2025 Subcommittee Hearings Held · house
- Dec 9, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. · house
- Jan 9, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. · house
- Jan 9, 2025 Introduced in House
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Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (2)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 9, 2025
Ms. Maloy introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
May 20, 2026
Additional sponsors: Ms. Lee of Nevada, Mr. Begich, Mr. Harder of California, Mr. Stauber, Mr. McDowell, Mr. Fulcher, and Ms. Elfreth
May 20, 2026
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
A BILL
To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to establish a deadline for processing applications related to geothermal leasing.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act” or the “GEO Act”.
SEC. 2. EFFECT OF PENDING CIVIL ACTIONS ON PROCESSING APPLICATIONS RELATED TO GEOTHERMAL LEASING.
Section 4 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1003) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(h) Effect of Pending Civil Actions on Processing Applications Related to Geothermal Leasing.—
“(1) Requirement to process applications.—Notwithstanding the existence of any pending civil action that affects an application for a geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or any other authorization under a valid existing geothermal lease, the Secretary shall, unless a United States Federal court vacates or provides injunctive relief for the applicable geothermal lease, geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or other authorization, approve and issue, or deny, each such application not later than 60 days after completing all requirements under applicable Federal laws and regulations, including the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code.
“(2) No new authority for federal courts.—Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as modifying any existing authority of a Federal court to vacate or provide injunctive relief for a geothermal lease, geothermal drilling permit, sundry notice, notice to proceed, right-of-way, or other authorization.
“(3) Definition of authorization.—In this subsection, the term ‘authorization’ means any license, permit, approval, finding, determination, or other administrative decision issued by a Federal agency, or any interagency consultation, that is required or authorized under Federal law or regulations in order to site, construct, reconstruct, or commence operations of a geothermal project administered by a Federal agency.”. Union Calendar No. 568
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 301
[Report No. 119-654]
A BILL
To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to establish a deadline for processing applications related to geothermal leasing.
May 20, 2026
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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