HR 301
Advanced toward a vote
Requires the Secretary of the Interior to approve or deny pending geothermal project applications within 60 days after completing federal review requirements, unless a federal court blocks the project.
Official title: GEO Act
Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions
House
Introduced
09-JAN-2025
Referred
09-JAN-2025
Approved by committee
05-MAR-2026
Reported
20-MAY-2026
On the calendar
20-MAY-2026
- Amends the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 by adding a new subsection (h) to Section 4.
- Requires the Secretary to approve or deny covered applications within 60 days after completing requirements under laws including the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.
- Applies even when a civil action is pending, unless a federal court vacates or provides injunctive relief for the affected lease or authorization.
- Leaves existing federal court authority unchanged and defines "authorization" to include permits, approvals, and interagency consultations for geothermal projects on federal land.
Covers an older version. The newest CRS summary describes the bill as of "Introduced in House" (09-JAN-2025); the text has changed since (Reported in House, 20-MAY-2026).
CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.govEnergy
■ 4 R■ 3 D
4 Republicans
3 Democrats