GEOTHERMAL: Build America Caucus Celebrates Passage of Affordable Energy Reforms

WASHINGTON – Today, the bipartisan Build America Caucus celebrated the U.S. House passage of affordable energy reforms to make it easier to get geothermal projects built faster. The Caucus has been building support for energy reforms for months, and following the Caucus’ roundtable on streamlining permitting and driving innovation, today’s vote secured broad bipartisan support. 

“America has the tools to lead the world in clean, reliable, affordable energy - we just have to make it easier to build them,” said Chair Josh Harder (CA-09). “Geothermal has the power to create good-paying jobs, lower energy costs, and strengthen our energy security. These bills cut through the red tape standing in the way so we can get more American energy online faster.” 

“Americans need more reliable, affordable energy. To get it, we have to fix the permitting process,” said Co-Chair Celeste Maloy (UT-02). “This bill package removes innovation-stifling red tape, strengthens American energy security, and helps ensure innovative technologies like geothermal can compete and grow. America should lead the future of energy production, not regulate it to a standstill.” 

The U.S. House just passed major reforms that will get affordable energy projects built faster:

• Geothermal Energy Advancement Act – Package of reforms that speeds up geothermal permitting and expands protections against litigation.
• CLEAN Act – Increases domestic power production by unlocking annual lease sales for viable geothermal land.
• License to Drill Act – Fast-tracks Bureau of Land Management (BLM) permitting by restoring the Application for Permit to Drill (APD) fee program.

“Geothermal energy has tremendous potential to strengthen American energy security, support economic growth, and provide reliable power when our grid needs it most,” said Rep. Jeff Hurd (CO-03). “The House’s passage of the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act is a practical, bipartisan step toward reducing unnecessary red tape and creating a more efficient permitting process for responsible geothermal development. America has the resources, innovation, and expertise to lead in geothermal energy. This bill helps remove barriers that have slowed that progress for far too long.”

Read more about the Build America Caucus here.

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