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A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to expedite geothermal exploration and development in previously studied or developed areas.
2/7/2025, 11:56 AM
Summary of Bill S 456
The bill seeks to streamline the permitting process for geothermal projects in these areas, with the goal of increasing the production of clean, renewable energy. By expediting the approval process, the bill aims to encourage investment in geothermal energy and create jobs in the industry.
Supporters of the bill argue that geothermal energy is a reliable and sustainable source of power that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. They believe that by making it easier to develop geothermal projects in areas that have already been studied, the United States can tap into a valuable source of clean energy and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. Opponents of the bill may argue that expediting the permitting process for geothermal projects could lead to environmental concerns, such as the potential for increased water usage or disruption of local ecosystems. They may also raise concerns about the impact of geothermal development on indigenous communities or cultural heritage sites. Overall, Bill 119 s 456 aims to promote the development of geothermal energy resources in a responsible and efficient manner, with the goal of increasing the United States' use of clean, renewable energy sources.
Congressional Summary of S 456
Streamlining Thermal Energy through Advanced Mechanisms Act or the STEAM Act
This bill expedites the environmental review of certain geothermal energy activities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Specifically, the bill expands the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to include certain geothermal exploration or development activities in an existing categorical exclusion from NEPA for certain oil or gas activities.
A categorical exclusion applies to a class of actions that do not require an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement under NEPA.
The categorical exclusion established by the bill applies to drilling a geothermal well (1) in an area where drilling has occurred previously within the five years prior to the date when drilling begins; or (2) within a developed field for which an approved land use plan or environmental document prepared under NEPA determined drilling to be a reasonably foreseeable activity, so long as the plan or document was approved within the five years prior to the date when drilling begins.
