Geothermal Energy Advancement Act
What does the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act do?
HR 5631 is a House bill sponsored by Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-CO-3). This bill speeds up and adds new rules for geothermal energy projects on federal public land. It sets a 60-day deadline for the Interior Department to decide certain geothermal authorizations after reviews are done, lets the government charge developers for permitting costs through 2033, creates a Geothermal Ombudsman and permitting task force, and updates geothermal royalty and environmental-review rules. Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to accelerate federal geothermal permitting, adding decision deadlines, cost recovery, a Geothermal Ombudsman, and updated royalty and environmental-review rules.
Did HR 5631 pass? Where it stands
As of August 24, 2026, HR 5631 has passed the House.
Status: Passed House
Latest vote: House Passed by voice vote on June 2, 2026
Outlook: Possible
Key provisions
- Faster Geothermal Permitting
- 60-day decision deadline once federal reviews are complete
- Deadline holds even with a pending lawsuit, unless a court blocks it
- Interior may charge developers for permitting and inspection costs
- Cost recovery runs through September 30, 2033
- Geothermal Ombudsman and Task Force
- New Bureau of Land Management Geothermal Ombudsman within 60 days
- Permitting task force can assign staff across BLM offices
- Retention allowances capped at 25% of basic pay
- Royalty, NEPA, and Standards Updates
- Reduced-royalty 10-year window tied to a facility's in-service date
- Adds geothermal to NEPA categorical-exclusion streamlining
- 'Gold Book' operating standards updated and renamed for geothermal
Last updated August 9, 2026