Summary
Makes it easier to start geothermal energy projects on certain lands by removing the need for a federal permit if a state permit is already approved.
What does this bill do?
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 30(a)
Header:
No Federal permit required for geothermal activities on certain land
Waives federal drilling permits
Removes the need for a federal drilling permit for geothermal projects on non-federal land if the U.S. owns less than 50% of the underground geothermal resources and a state permit is provided.
Exempts projects from environmental laws
Specifies that these geothermal projects are not major federal actions, exempting them from review under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Allows projects to start quickly
Permits geothermal activities to begin just 30 days after the operator submits a valid state permit to the Secretary.
Maintains federal royalty payments
Ensures that the U.S. government will still collect royalties from the production of electricity or byproducts from these geothermal projects.
Excludes Indian lands
States that these new rules for waiving permits and environmental reviews do not apply to actions on Indian lands or resources managed for Indian Tribes.
Who does this affect?
- Geothermal energy companies
- State environmental agencies
- Landowners on non-federal surface estates
What is the real world impact?
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Promotes clean energy development
Reduces federal rules to make it faster and easier for companies to develop geothermal energy, a source of clean power.
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Weakens environmental protections
Exempts certain geothermal projects from major federal environmental laws, like the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. This could harm local ecosystems and wildlife without federal review.
What problem does this solve?
Getting federal permits for geothermal energy can be slow, even when the government only owns a small part of the underground resources. This bill speeds things up by letting companies use a state permit instead of a federal one in these specific cases.
When does this start?
The changes would take effect as soon as the bill becomes law.