The proposed permitting changes aim to expedite the discovery of new geothermal resources. Credit: Yuliya Sakalouskaya / Shutterstock.

The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has revealed plans to expand geothermal energy on public lands.

The initiative aligns with the Biden-Harris administration’s ambitious target of achieving a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035.

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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has given the green light to the Fervo Cape geothermal power project in Beaver County, Utah, expected to harness innovative technology to generate up to 2GW of baseload power.

The BLM has now authorised almost 32GW of clean energy projects on public lands, including 42 projects sanctioned by the current administration.

BLM director Tracy Stone-Manning stated: “The BLM is committed to supporting the responsible growth of geothermal energy on public lands.

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“We need all the tools in the toolbox to reach a clean energy future, and this proposed categorical exclusion will help accelerate the process of locating new geothermal resources.”  

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There are currently 51 operational geothermal power plants on BLM-managed lands.

In a bid to further streamline the expansion, the BLM has proposed a new categorical exclusion (CX) to expedite the confirmation of geothermal energy resources.

The proposed CX would cover geothermal resource confirmation operations on up to 20 acres.

The BLM’s recent geothermal lease sale, the largest in more than 15 years, underscores the momentum behind geothermal energy development.

The proposed permitting changes aim at accelerating the discovery of new geothermal resources, particularly in states such as Nevada, which has considerable untapped geothermal potential.

In January 2024, Enel Green Power North America finalised the sale of its geothermal portfolio along with several small solar plants in the US to Ormat Technologies.