The Geothermal Energy Optimization Act would speed up adoption and development of geothermal energy, lower costs for Americans, and create more pathways to high-quality jobs.

March 15, 2024 - Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), along with Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), James Risch, (R-Idaho), and Mike Lee (R-Utah) – all members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee – introduced the Geothermal Energy Optimization (GEO) Act to accelerate the adoption of geothermal energy nationwide. Nevada is the second largest producer of geothermal energy in the nation, and has one of the largest amount of untapped geothermal resources in the country.

“Nevada is primed to continue to grow our geothermal energy sector, which will play an essential role in our clean energy future,” said Cortez Masto. “This bipartisan legislation will make it easier for companies to explore and invest in geothermal projects that power our communities while lowering energy costs for Nevada families.”

Next-generation geothermal technologies will create new, good-paying jobs, add to Nevada’s capacity to generate clean energy, and complement wind and solar energy sources. Geothermal heat can be used for industrial processes, mineral production, agricultural applications, energy storage, and hydrogen production. It is especially suitable for energy-intensive direct air capture (DAC) facilities and data centers. 

 The GEO Act would make it easier for geothermal projects to get off the ground in Nevada and nationwide by putting them on an equal footing with oil and gas projects on public land and directing the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to develop a streamlined process for geothermal permits. The bill also creates a Geothermal Ombudsman and Strike Team to provide additional resources for field offices. Additionally, it sets new geothermal lease targets on federal lands and requires the BLM and USFS to hold auctions more frequently than every two years. 

A one-page bill summary is HERE. The text of the bill is HERE. 

Senator Cortez Masto has consistently worked to support Nevada’s battery supply chain and clean energy industry, which has created nearly 42,000 good-paying clean energy jobs across Nevada. Through her Innovation State Initiative, Senator Cortez Masto has been a proponent of renewable and sustainable energy, passing bipartisan legislation to promote Nevada’s mining and emerging battery industries. She has also set up a sustainable critical mineral supply chain and led efforts in the Senate to create good-paying solar energy jobs. Cortez Masto recently announced that the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) has been designated as a Tech Hub for innovation and job creation. 
Source: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto