Executive Summary
Federal geothermal developers may be exposed to new permitting timelines and dedicated agency support if H.R. 5631 is enacted. The Geothermal Energy Advancement Act, which the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved on July 29, 2026, would require the Department of the Interior to approve or deny certain geothermal authorizations within 60 days after completion of federal environmental review. It would also create a geothermal ombudsman within Bureau of Land Management to serve as a liaison among field offices and resolve disputes with project applicants, establish a Geothermal Permitting Task Force to support that function, authorize DOI to recover costs for permitting activities, and direct DOI to develop standardized geothermal permitting guidance. The bill has not been enacted and now awaits consideration by the full Senate.
What Happened
The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved H.R. 5631, the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act, by voice vote on July 29, 2026. The House previously passed the bill by voice vote on June 2, 2026. Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) sponsored the legislation.
The bill would amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to establish new timelines for federal geothermal permitting. Under the bill, DOI would have 60 days to approve or deny geothermal drilling permits, rights-of-way, notices to proceed, and other…
