Yassamin Ansari's Geothermal Energy Bill Passes House

Representative Yassamin Ansari's (D-AZ) Geothermal Gold Book Development Act has passed the House.

The bill, which Rep. Ansari introduced in September, requires the creation of a "gold book" for geothermal energy through the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

Gold books are guides published by the BLM to assist operators by providing information on the requirements for obtaining permit approval and for conducting environmentally responsible energy production on federal land or on private surface over federal minerals.

Rep. Ansari's Geothermal Gold Book Development Act requires the BLM to develop a federal standard for geothermal energy production within 1 year of enactment, and the resulting gold book must be published within 180 days of that deadline. Moreover, the book must be reviewed every five years for necessary revisions resulting from policy changes or better strategies.

"I've spent my whole career working on climate policy; it's humbling to see my first passed bill as a freshman make it through the House with bipartisan support," the Arizona congresswoman said in her press release, adding, "Harnessing the Earth's internal heat through geothermal energy is a commonsense, promising source of renewable power. And my bill will ensure that the fastest-growing energy source in the United States can be safely regulated and reviewed by a nationwide, standardized system."

Ansari is not the only Arizona official seeking to tap into geothermal energy, as State Representative Teresa Martinez (R-16) introduced Arizona House Concurrent Resolution 2057, which passed at the beginning of May, and recognizes the Grand Canyon's potential for harnessing geothermal energy.

Later in May, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced the Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act, which allows the Department of the Interior to recoup administrative costs, such as application and inspection fees, from geothermal lease applicants and holders through September 30th, 2032, thereby ensuring it maintains the funds necessary to process new applications quickly.