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Co-Location Energy Act

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to co-locate renewable energy projects on certain existing Federal leased areas, and for other purposes.

Introduced Mar 6, 2025

Latest action (Mar 6, 2025) Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Referred to
Environment and Public Works Committee
Policy area
Energy
Issues
Climate & Energy

Summary

The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to permit the co-location of renewable energy projects on existing Federal energy leases for oil, gas, coal, and geothermal resources. The Secretary may authorize evaluation of lease areas for solar or wind energy development and may issue permits for the construction and operation of solar or wind energy systems on those areas, provided the existing leaseholder consents. The bill requires the Secretary to determine within 180 days whether solar and wind development actions should be categorically excluded from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act. The Secretary must issue rules to implement the act's provisions.

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)
1 cosponsor

Actions (2)
  1. Mar 6, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. · senate
  2. Mar 6, 2025 Introduced in Senate

Similar bills (6)

Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.

  • HR 5368 — Investing in Energy Regions Act · Introduced Sep 24, 2021 · Cong. 117 77%
  • HR 5639 — Co-Location Energy Act · Introduced Mar 25, 2026 · Cong. 119 72%
  • S 109 — Offshore Energy Security Act of 2025 · Introduced Jan 16, 2025 · Cong. 119 72%
  • S 333 — Homeowner Energy Freedom Act · Introduced Jan 30, 2025 · Cong. 119 71%
  • HR 526 — Declaration of Energy Independence Act · Introduced Jan 16, 2025 · Cong. 119 70%
  • S 456 — STEAM Act · Introduced Feb 6, 2025 · Cong. 119 70%

Full text

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 6, 2025

Mr. Curtis (for himself and Mr. Hickenlooper) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to co-locate renewable energy projects on certain existing Federal leased areas, and for other purposes.

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 “Co-Location Energy Act”.

SEC. 2. CO-LOCATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS.

(a) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) Existing federal energy lease.—The term “existing Federal energy lease” means a lease, easement, or right-of- way, as applicable—

(A) on land managed by the Secretary; and

(B) that was issued, granted, or renewed on or before the date of enactment of this Act under—

(i) the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.); or

(ii) the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).

(2) Secretary.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.

(b) Authorization To Evaluate Leased Areas for Renewable Energy Development.—

(1) In general.—In addition to the authority of the Secretary under section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)) and section 501(a)(4) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761(a)(4)), the Secretary may authorize a person to evaluate an area of an existing Federal energy lease for solar or wind energy development.

(2) Consent of leaseholder.—The Secretary may not authorize a person to evaluate an area under paragraph (1) unless the applicable leaseholder consents to that authorization.

(c) Permits for Renewable Energy Development on Existing Oil, Gas, Coal, and Geothermal Lease Areas.—

(1) In general.—In addition to the authority of the Secretary under section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)) and section 501(a)(4) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761(a)(4)), the Secretary may issue a permit to authorize a person to construct or operate systems or facilities for the production, transportation, storage, or transmission of energy from solar or wind resources on an area of an existing Federal energy lease.

(2) Consent of leaseholder.—The Secretary may not issue a permit for an activity described in paragraph (1) unless the applicable leaseholder consents to the issuance of that permit.

(d) Categorical Exclusions.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall determine whether any of the actions for which a permit may be issued under subsection (c)(1), or any actions that may be carried out pursuant to constructing or operating systems or facilities for the production, transportation, storage, or transmission of energy from solar or wind resources on areas not subject to an existing Federal energy lease, are a category of actions that normally do not significantly affect the quality of the human environment within the meaning of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)).

(e) Rulemaking.—The Secretary shall issue a rule to carry out this section. <all>

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