FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 25, 2025
CONTACT: [email protected]
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher (Idaho-01) reintroduced legislation to streamline the discovery and permitting process for geothermal energy projects.
Specifically, H.R. 5576, the Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act, will bring geothermal to parity with oil and gas exploration on public lands.
Congressman Russ Fulcher shared, “Idaho has been a pioneer in harnessing the power of geothermal energy for over a century. This clean, abundant resource has the potential to help meet the United States’ power demand, which is increasing at a historic rate due in part to AI and other technological advancements. However, current excessive federal government regulation is hindering the exploration and development of geothermal. This bill streamlines that process, reducing unnecessary barriers and unlocking new opportunities to develop clean, reliable energy in the Gem State and across the West, helping to lower prices for consumers.”
House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman said, “America is in need of more energy resources to meet our exponentially growing demand. H.R. 5576 will help to streamline the exploration of geothermal resources on Federal lands, a valuable source of baseload energy. I applaud Rep. Fulcher for his commitment to America’s energy prosperity.”
Utah Congressman Mike Kennedy, a co-sponsor of the legislation, added, “I am pleased to co-sponsor Congressman Fulcher’s (ID-01) Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act. Unlocking geothermal energy to meet the rising needs of the intermountain west will put America on track to be the world’s number one energy producer.”
Bill Background
With 90 percent of viable geothermal resources located on federally managed lands, almost all geothermal projects are subject to the NEPA review process. Currently, most geothermal exploration wells require an Environmental Assessment (EA) to be filed before exploration begins. This EA process for geothermal projects averages 10 months, meaning interested parties must wait nearly a year to determine if a viable geothermal resource even exists.
The Enhancing Geothermal Production on Federal Lands Act will alleviate this burdensome process by:
- Creating a limited categorical exclusion for geothermal exploration activities on federal lands so that companies can mitigate the risk of investing in the high up-front capital costs that geothermal development requires.
- Ensuring the categorical exclusion mirrors the categorical exclusion currently available to oil and gas exploration wells.
- Requiring the Secretary of the Interior to identify priority areas for geothermal development on federal lands within three years of the enactment of the bill.
About Russ Fulcher
Russ Fulcher is a fourth-generation Idahoan, grew up on a dairy farm in Meridian, Idaho. He was elected to Congress to represent Idaho's first congressional district in 2019 after serving in the Idaho State Senate for ten years. Visit https://fulcher.house.gov/ for more information or to find contact info.
