The United States has the opportunity to add more renewable energy to our grid by unleashing the heat beneath our feet: geothermal energy. However, to power homes and businesses across the country with this clean energy resource, we need a commonsense review process that helps get much needed projects approved and puts shovels in the ground. Conservative Climate Caucus Member Rep. Michelle Steel’s (R-Calif.) legislation, H.R. 6474, would do just that.
Rep. Steel’s bill would add geothermal exploration and development activities to the categorical exclusions under National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), expediting and removing barriers to the advancement of geothermal technologies on federal lands.
Creating a categorical exclusion saves federal agencies time and money while increasing the efficiency of NEPA review processes and ensuring a minimal environmental impact. Adding geothermal exploration and development activities to the categorical exclusions would put more projects on track to meet our clean energy goals. For these reasons, CRES is proud to endorse H.R. 6474.
“An all-of-the-above energy approach that reduces global emissions includes geothermal energy, and expediting its development on federal lands is important to adding more reliable, affordable, and renewable energy to our grid,” said CRES President Heather Reams. “Cutting unnecessary red tape that delays geothermal projects will create good-paying jobs and expand our clean energy supply, and I thank Rep. Steel for leading this charge towards the expansion of geothermal technologies.”
Last month, the House Natural Resources Committee passed the bill with bipartisan support – a major step towards unleashing the potential geothermal energy has to offer. To read more about Rep. Steel’s bill, click HERE.