What it does
SourcedEnhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act
This bill exempts certain projects and activities related to geothermal development on federal land from environmental review requirements.
Specifically, the bill exempts certain geothermal exploration projects with limited impact on federal land from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Geothermal exploration projects are those that involve the drilling of geothermal exploratory wells, such as temperature gradient wells, monitoring wells, or calibration wells, and that are limited in size, duration, and other aspects in accordance with specified criteria.
The bill also exempts from NEPA the following activities related to the exploration, development, or production of geothermal resources: (1) geotechnical investigations; (2) off-road travel in certain existing rights-of-way; and (3) the construction, maintenance, realignment, and repair of access roads within such rights-of-way.
Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Reported to House, Aug 27, 2026).
Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.
What has happened
Sourced- Aug 27, 2026Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-773.Library of Congress
- Sep 26, 2025Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress
Cosponsors
- Nicholas J. Begich III R-AK-At Large
- Mike Kennedy R-UT-3
- Celeste Maloy R-UT-2