Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) reintroduced their bipartisan, bicameral legislation to promote geothermal energy. The STEAM Act would expedite geothermal exploration and development in previously studied or developed areas. Representatives Susie Lee (D-Nev.-03) and Celeste Maloy (R-Utah-02) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Nevada’s clean energy economy is spurring innovation and lowering energy costs for residents across the Silver State,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “My commonsense, bipartisan legislation will cut red tape, create good-paying jobs, and let communities take advantage of Nevada’s untapped geothermal potential.”
“Unleashing the full potential of clean, reliable, baseload geothermal will help to bolster our energy independence and power our communities. The STEAM Act takes a step forward to remove unnecessary hurdles for geothermal exploration and cuts through the red tape slowing down deployment of geothermal technologies,” said Senator Murkowski. “I look forward to continuing to advocate for this legislation to help boost geothermal as a source of domestic energy.”
“Nevada has incredible energy potential and geothermal energy is a key piece of that,” said Rep. Lee. “Yet, red tape has prevented us from fully unleashing its potential. This bipartisan bill will cut red tape, help strengthen U.S. energy independence, and lower costs.”
“Utah’s second district has some of the most abundant geothermal resources in the world,” said Rep. Maloy. “Unfortunately, bureaucratic red tape and inefficiency makes developing geothermal resources risky. The STEAM Act will clear the way for Utah to produce more energy and create more jobs.”
“In 2005, the U.S. faced an energy crisis and rightly granted oil and gas a categorical exclusion to produce more energy to meet demand,” said Jeremy Harrell, CEO, ClearPath Action. “As the U.S. faces new challenges to meet rising demand, this bill helps achieve parity for 24/7, clean, reliable geothermal power. This legislation is important in unlocking American geothermal energy to support our economy and the environment.”
“The STEAM Act is an important step in advancing geothermal energy exploration and development in previously studied or developed areas,” said Jeanine Vany, Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Eavor. “By ensuring geothermal exploration can move forward as efficiently and responsibly as other energy resources, this bill paves the way for the expansion of a proven, clean, and reliable energy solution. We’re encouraged by continued bipartisan action that prioritizes domestic geothermal applications as a key part of our future energy portfolio.”
“The bipartisan STEAM Act would extend permitting parity across oil, gas, and geothermal for American generation projects,” said Ben Serrurier, Senior Manager of Government Affairs and Policy, Fervo Energy. “The permitting improvements from the STEAM Act have been tested and perfected for two decades now — and banks, operators, and agencies know how they work. This will help geothermal projects advance more quickly and at reasonable costs with financing and drilling. Fervo applauds Representatives Celeste Maloy and Susie Lee and Senators Lisa Murkowski and Catherine Cortez Masto for their hard work to advance this source of clean, firm energy to power America.”
Right now, there is an expedited review and permitting process for oil and gas development projects on land that has already gone through environmental studies. The Streamlining Thermal Energy through Advanced Mechanisms (STEAM) Act would cut red tape by allowing geothermal projects in previously developed or studied areas to also bypass cumbersome, repetitive environmental impact studies.
Senator Cortez Masto has consistently worked to support Nevada’s battery supply chain and clean energy industry, which has created nearly 42,000 good-paying clean energy jobs across Nevada. Through her Innovation State Initiative, Senator Cortez Masto has been a proponent of renewable and sustainable energy, passing bipartisan legislation to promote Nevada’s mining and emerging battery industries. She has also set up a sustainable critical mineral supply chain and led efforts in the Senate to create good-paying solar energy jobs. Cortez Masto recently announced that the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) has been designated as a Tech Hub for innovation and job creation.
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