HB1687, the Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act or CLEAN Act, would amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to speed up federal geothermal leasing and permitting. It shortens the required interval for geothermal lease sales from once every two years to once every year and requires the Secretary of the Interior to hold a replacement lease sale in the same year if a scheduled sale is canceled or delayed. The bill also directs the Secretary to offer all nominated parcels eligible for geothermal development in certain states, subject to applicable resource management plans.
The bill further establishes deadlines for geothermal drilling permit processing. Within 30 days of receiving an application, the Secretary must either deem it complete or identify missing information, and once an application is complete, a final decision must be issued within 30 days. Overall, the measure is designed to reduce administrative delay and increase the pace at which geothermal projects can move forward on federal lands.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would amend federal geothermal leasing and permitting rules under the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, creating more frequent lease sales, mandatory replacement sales, and strict processing deadlines for drilling permits. It would affect the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management’s management of geothermal resources on federal lands, as well as developers, lease applicants, and states with geothermal potential. The bill would likely increase the volume and predictability of geothermal leasing opportunities and could accelerate project timelines for geothermal energy production.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or recorded vote information was provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or bipartisan support in the available materials. Based on the bill text and its stated purpose, the measure appears to be framed positively by its sponsors as a pro-development, energy-access bill intended to streamline federal processes for geothermal energy. The absence of recorded opposition in the provided context means the overall sentiment cannot be assessed beyond the sponsors’ apparent support.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are the bill’s mandate for faster federal action and its limits on agency discretion. Supporters are likely to favor the bill for reducing delays, increasing lease availability, and promoting geothermal energy development. Critics could object that the deadlines may be too rigid for environmental review, land-use coordination, or technical evaluation, and that requiring replacement sales and offering all nominated eligible parcels could constrain Interior’s ability to manage leasing based on broader planning considerations. No specific opposing members or groups are identified in the provided record.