DATE INTRODUCED:

09/26/25

WHAT:

H.R. 5587 – Harnessing Energy at Thermal Sources Act (HEATS) would allow geothermal projects to provide a state drilling permit for geothermal exploration and production activities for projects located where the federal government owns less than 50 percent of the subsurface geothermal estate, in lieu of a requirement to obtain a federal permit. The bill defines these projects as non-major federal actions, exempting them from the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) requirement for an environmental impact statement.

This bill passed the House during the 118th Congress with bipartisan support.

WHY IT MATTERS:

The HEATS Act removes unnecessary and bureaucratic permitting barriers for geothermal projects located on private land but drill into geothermal resources considered part of the federal estate. The bill would exempt projects from federal permitting requirements if they are located on non-federal land, the federal government owns less than 50 percent of the subsurface estate and the operator has a State permit in place.

Geothermal provides round-the-clock baseload, zero-emissions energy that can be deployed to meet rising energy demand. Geothermal resources are predominantly located on federal lands and can be subject to both state and federal environmental review processes in some cases. At times, geothermal energy development is subject to six distinct reviews, and resource exploration is often the most uncertain phase of development.

Extended timelines from federal environmental reviews unnecessarily delays the project, increasing both costs and risk for developers. To meet rapidly growing energy demand Congress should mitigate the permitting burden and accelerate resource exploration, development and deployment through legislation like the HEATS Act.

WHAT'S NEXT:

This legislation builds on the momentum surrounding geothermal energy and further eases the permitting burden regarding development on federal lands. Permitting barriers remain a roadblock to widespread geothermal development, despite increasing demand. H.R. 5587 is an important step toward unleashing the full potential of geothermal energy and further enhancing America’s energy security.

ORIGINAL SPONSOR:

H.R. 5587
Rep. Young Kim (R-CA)

COSPONSOR:

H.R. 5587
Rep. Adam Gray (D-CA)

SUPPORT:

ClearPath Action

CONGRESS.GOV LINK:

H.R. 5587

PRINTABLE SUMMARY:

Printable summary of H.R. 5587