Include regulatory shortcuts for geothermal energy exploration?

Environment and Energy
STEAM Act (S. 456)
Awaiting Vote
Bill Summary

S. 456 seeks to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to expedite geothermal exploration on public lands. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which was created through the Energy Policy Act to make categorical exclusions to make oil and gas drilling more efficient, established a federal environmental law review process that evaluates the environmental impacts of federal projects. The bipartisan STEAM Act modifies the NEPA section of the Energy Policy Act to allow for similar exclusions of federal geothermal exploration. This would result in fast-tracked NEPA reviews for geothermal energy, reducing regulatory barriers to clean energy production. Sponsor: Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, Nevada)
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Opponents say

•    Major formal or organized opposition statements from members of Congress or environmental organizations specifically targeting S. 456 are not prominent in legislative committee records or public debates.

•    At the time of research and publication, no official opposing statements have been identified.  This does not mean that nobody opposes the bill, nor does it mean that opposing statements will not be made in the future.

Proponents say

•    "Nevada’s clean energy economy is spurring innovation and lowering energy costs for residents across the Silver State. My commonsense, bipartisan legislation will cut red tape, create good-paying jobs, and let communities take advantage of Nevada’s untapped geothermal potential." Source: Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat, Nevada), Sponsor


•    "Unleashing the full potential of clean, reliable, baseload geothermal will help to bolster our energy independence and power our communities. The STEAM Act takes a step forward to remove unnecessary hurdles for geothermal exploration and cuts through the red tape slowing down deployment of geothermal technologies. I look forward to continuing to advocate for this legislation to help boost geothermal as a source of domestic energy." Source: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Republican, Alaska), Cosponsor

•   "Geothermal is a proven 24/7 clean energy source with a smaller land footprint than other energy sources. The U.S. has over 70,000 GW of geothermal potential, but permitting delays stall projects and drive up costs. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) now leverage advanced oil and gas drilling technology, making them scalable with well-understood environmental risks. However, the average NEPA review takes 4.5 years, deterring investment and slowing innovation. While the Bureau of Land Management has established a categorical exclusion for geothermal exploration, it remains vulnerable to administrative changes. The STEAM Act ensures long-term permitting certainty, preventing policy shifts from delaying projects." Source: ClearPath Action for Conservative Clean Energy, Conservative Clean-Energy Advocacy Group


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