Ada Reporter

U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher from Idaho has reintroduced the Committing Leases for Energy Access Now (CLEAN) Act, a piece of legislation that previously passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan basis during the 118th Congress. This initiative is part of a larger Republican effort to enhance domestic energy production and diversify the United States' energy portfolio to address increasing demand.

"Geothermal has the potential to be an energy giant for America. However, nearly 90% of our nation's geothermal resources are located on federally managed lands, which have been historically mismanaged. I am proud to reintroduce the CLEAN Act to ensure the Department of Interior holds frequent lease sale opportunities to allow for the exploration and development of this clean energy resource. I look forward to working with my House and Senate colleagues to deliver this legislation to President Trump’s desk," stated Congressman Fulcher.

The Department of Energy notes that the United States leads globally in geothermal electricity-generating capacity with just over 4 gigawatts, sufficient to power about 3 million homes across the country.

Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman commented on the importance of comprehensive solutions for energy independence: "Unleashing America’s energy dominance requires all-of-the-above solutions, including geothermal. Thanks to Congressman Fulcher’s CLEAN Act, America can reduce our reliance on adversarial nations and tap into homegrown resources to meet skyrocketing energy demands. I want to thank him for his leadership and his continued work on energy issues across the country."

Fervo Energy, a developer specializing in carbon-free baseload power, supports this legislation.

Idaho is at the forefront of geothermal energy production in the United States. Boise hosts the country's first geothermal district heating system, which was established in 1892. The system distributes naturally heated water through more than 20 miles of pipeline, heating over 6 million square feet of building space, including Idaho's State Capitol—the only geothermally heated capitol building in America.

The CLEAN Act aims to amend existing regulations under the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 by addressing leasing processes essential for developing geothermal resources on federally controlled lands. Currently, slow permitting processes extend project timelines beyond those typical for other types of energy projects.