H.R. 398 · On the floor · Energy

Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2025

Sponsor: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)

What it does

• Authorizes the Department of Interior to collect cost-recovery fees from applicants for and holders of geothermal leases on federal land through September 30, 2032.
• Permits Interior to recover costs for processing geothermal lease applications and drilling permits, and for inspecting and monitoring geothermal exploration and development activities.
• Allows Interior to reduce or waive fees if full reimbursement would cause economic hardship or if lower fees are necessary to promote greater use of geothermal resources.
• Requires Interior to submit a report to Congress within five years assessing how the fees affect the geothermal leasing program and recommending any program updates.

Official summary

Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2025 This bill expands the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to give the Department of the Interior the authority to collect certain fees from applicants for, or holders of, geothermal leases through September 30, 2032. Specifically, Interior may direct those applicants or leaseholders to reimburse the United States for costs from (1) processing applications for geothermal leases on federal land, such as applications for geothermal drilling permits; and (2) inspecting and monitoring geothermal exploration and development activities, including reclamation activities. Interior may reduce the amount of the fee if it determines that (1) the full reimbursement would impose an economic hardship on the applicant, or (2) a less than full reimbursement is necessary to promote the greatest use of geothermal resources. Interior may use those fees only to the extent that they are provided in advance in appropriations acts for (1) processing applications for geothermal leases, and (2) inspecting and monitoring related exploration and development activities. Within five years of the bill's enactment, Interior must submit to Congress a report that includes…

Latest action

May 20, 2026: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 569.

Committee: House Natural Resources