Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2025
Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2025 - Summary **What It Does** This bill would allow the Department of the Interior to charge fees to companies that apply for or hold geothermal leases on federal land. These fees would cover the government's costs for reviewing lease applications, issuing drilling permits, and monitoring ongoing geothermal development and cleanup activities. The authority would last until September 2032. The department could reduce or waive fees if paying them would cause economic hardship or if doing so would encourage greater use of geothermal energy resources. **Who It Affects** The bill primarily affects geothermal energy companies seeking to develop geothermal resources on public lands.
The fees would be used to fund Interior Department operations related to geothermal leasing and oversight, potentially reducing the need for other government funding sources. Ultimately, costs could be passed along to consumers through energy prices, though the bill aims to keep the requirement reasonable. **Current Status** The bill was introduced in the 119th Congress (2025) by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives. It remains in the early stages of the legislative process.
CRS Official Summary
Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2025This bill expands the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to give the Department of the Interior the authority to collect certain fees from applicants for, or holders of, geothermal leases through September 30, 2032. Specifically, Interior may direct those applicants or leaseholders to reimburse the United States for costs from (1) processing applications for geothermal leases on federal land, such as applications for geothermal drilling permits; and (2) inspecting and monitoring geothermal exploration and development activities, including reclamation activities.Interior may reduce the amount of the fee if it determines that (1) the full reimbursement would impose an economic hardship on the applicant, or (2) a less than full reimbursement is necessary to promote the greatest use of geothermal resources.Interior may use those fees only to the extent that they are provided in advance in appropriations acts for (1) processing applications for geothermal leases, and (2) inspecting and monitoring related exploration and development activities.Within five years of the bill's enactment, Interior must submit to Congress a report that includes an assessment of how the fees affect Interior's geothermal leasing program and any recommendations for updates to the fees and the program.
Latest Action
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.