February 27, 2025
Mr. Fulcher (for himself, Ms. Maloy, and Ms. Boebert) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to increase the frequency of lease sales, to require replacement sales, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act
or the CLEAN Act
.
Sec. 2. Geothermal leasing
(a) Annual leasing
Section 4(b) of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1003(b)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (2), by striking 2 years
and inserting year
;
(2)
by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and
(3)
after paragraph (2), by inserting the following:
(3) Replacement Sales
If a lease sale under paragraph (1) for a year is canceled or delayed, the Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a replacement sale during the same year.
(4) Requirement
In conducting a lease sale under paragraph (2) in a State described in that paragraph, the Secretary of the Interior shall offer all nominated parcels eligible for geothermal development and utilization under the resource management plan in effect for the State.
(b) Deadlines for consideration of geothermal drilling permits
Section 4 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1003) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(h) Deadlines for consideration of geothermal drilling permits
(1) Notice
Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary receives an application for any geothermal drilling permit, the Secretary shall—
(A)
provide written notice to the applicant that the application is complete; or
(B)
notify the applicant that information is missing and specify any information that is required to be submitted for the application to be complete.
(2) Issuance of decision
If the Secretary determines that an application for a geothermal drilling permit is complete under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall issue a final decision on the application not later than 30 days after the Secretary notifies the applicant that the application is complete.