What This Bill Does
This bill changes the rules for geothermal leasing, which is when the government sells rights to companies to develop geothermal energy (heat from inside the Earth) on public lands. The bill requires the government to hold these sales every year instead of every two years and to conduct replacement sales if any sale gets canceled or delayed. It also sets deadlines for the government to review applications from companies that want to drill for geothermal energy.
Who It Affects
The Secretary of the Interior (the federal official who manages public lands and resources). Companies that want to lease geothermal land or drill for geothermal energy. States that have geothermal resources available for development.
Key Provisions
- The government must hold geothermal lease sales every year instead of every two years (Sec. 2(a)).
- If a lease sale gets canceled or delayed in any year, the Secretary of the Interior must conduct a replacement sale that same year (Sec. 2(a)).
- When holding a lease sale in a state, the Secretary must offer all nominated parcels (pieces of land) that are eligible for geothermal development under the state's resource management plan (Sec. 2(a)).
- Within 30 days of receiving an application for a geothermal drilling permit, the Secretary must tell the applicant whether the application is complete or what information is missing (Sec. 2(b)).
- Within 30 days after telling an applicant their application is complete, the Secretary must issue a final decision on the geothermal drilling permit (Sec. 2(b)).
What Changes
The frequency of geothermal lease sales increases from once every two years to once per year. The government gains an obligation to hold replacement sales if the annual sale is canceled or delayed. Applications for geothermal drilling permits now have specific 30-day deadlines for the government to review them and make decisions.
Important Definitions
None defined in the bill text.
IIB
118TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 1449
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
NOVEMBER 20, 2024
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources
AN ACT
To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to increase
the frequency of lease sales, to require replacement sales,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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HR 1449 RFS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Committing Leases
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for Energy Access Now Act’’ or the ‘‘CLEAN Act’’.
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SEC. 2. GEOTHERMAL LEASING.
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(a) ANNUAL LEASING.—Section 4(b) of the Geo-
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thermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1003(b)) is amend-
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ed—
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(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘2 years’’ and
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inserting ‘‘year’’;
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(2) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as
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paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and
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(3) after paragraph (2), by inserting the fol-
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lowing:
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‘‘(3) REPLACEMENT
SALES.—If a lease sale
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under paragraph (1) for a year is canceled or de-
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layed, the Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a
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replacement sale during the same year.
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‘‘(4) REQUIREMENT.—In conducting a lease
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sale under paragraph (2) in a State described in
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that paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior shall
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offer all nominated parcels eligible for geothermal
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development and utilization under the resource man-
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agement plan in effect for the State.’’.
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(b) DEADLINES
FOR
CONSIDERATION
OF
GEO-
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THERMAL DRILLING PERMITS.—Section 4 of the Geo-
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HR 1449 RFS
thermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1003) is amended
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by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(h) DEADLINES
FOR CONSIDERATION
OF GEO-
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THERMAL DRILLING PERMITS.—
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‘‘(1) NOTICE.—Not later than 30 days after the
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date on which the Secretary receives an application
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for any geothermal drilling permit, the Secretary
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shall—
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‘‘(A) provide written notice to the appli-
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cant that the application is complete; or
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‘‘(B) notify the applicant that information
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is missing and specify any information that is
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required to be submitted for the application to
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be complete.
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‘‘(2) ISSUANCE OF DECISION.—If the Secretary
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determines that an application for a geothermal
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drilling permit is complete under paragraph (1)(A),
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the Secretary shall issue a final decision on the ap-
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plication not later than 30 days after the Secretary
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HR 1449 RFS
notifies the applicant that the application is com-
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plete.’’.
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Passed the House of Representatives November 19,
2024.
Attest:
KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,
Clerk.
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