H.R. 1687: Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act

This bill, known as the CLEAN Act, aims to make changes to the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to streamline and enhance geothermal energy leasing and drilling permit processes. Here are the main provisions:

Annual Leasing Adjustments

The bill proposes to:

• Change the frequency of geothermal lease sales from every two years to annually, allowing for more frequent opportunities to lease geothermal land for energy production.
• Introduce a requirement for "replacement sales." If a scheduled lease sale is canceled or delayed, the Secretary of the Interior is mandated to conduct a replacement sale within the same year.
• Ensure that all parcels eligible for geothermal development, as outlined in the resource management plan for the relevant state, must be offered during lease sales.

Geothermal Drilling Permits

The bill establishes specific deadlines related to geothermal drilling permits:

• The Secretary of the Interior must provide written notice to the applicant within 30 days of receiving a geothermal drilling permit application. This notice indicates whether the application is complete or if additional information is needed.
• If the application is deemed complete, the Secretary must make a final decision regarding the permit within an additional 30 days.

Overall, the bill seeks to facilitate geothermal energy development by increasing the efficiency of the leasing process and reducing delays in obtaining drilling permits.

Relevant Companies

• CCI - Crown Castle Inc.: Potentially involved in geothermal projects through infrastructure development.
• DUK - Duke Energy Corporation: May look to expand its energy portfolio to include more geothermal energy sources in response to increased leasing opportunities.
• NEE - NextEra Energy, Inc.: As a significant player in the energy sector, it could pursue geothermal projects due to more accessible leasing and quicker permitting processes.