Overview
Title
An Act To amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to increase the frequency of lease sales, to require replacement sales, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
In this bill, they're changing the rules to make it easier and faster to use hot water from the Earth to make energy by having more frequent sales and quicker decisions on who gets to drill for this energy. They're doing this so people won't have to wait so long to start using the Earth's heat to make power.
Summary AI
H. R. 1449, titled the “Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act” or the “CLEAN Act,” proposes changes to the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970. The bill aims to increase the frequency of geothermal lease sales by mandating yearly sales instead of every two years and requires immediate replacement sales if any scheduled lease sale is canceled or delayed. It also establishes deadlines for processing geothermal drilling permits, with the Secretary of the Interior required to notify applicants of permit completeness within 30 days and to make a final decision within another 30 days once the application is deemed complete.
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AnalysisAI
The proposed legislation, known as the Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act or the CLEAN Act, aims to amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970. It is intended to increase the regularity of lease sales for geothermal energy and address issues related to lease sale cancellations or delays. Additionally, the bill seeks to streamline the process for considering geothermal drilling permits.
General Summary of the Bill
The CLEAN Act seeks to modify existing procedures under the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 by mandating that geothermal lease sales occur annually, rather than every two years. The bill includes provisions for conducting replacement sales if any scheduled lease sale is canceled or delayed within the same year. It also requires the Department of the Interior to offer all eligible parcels for geothermal development and utilization under existing resource management plans. Furthermore, the bill imposes deadlines on the Secretary of the Interior for processing and deciding upon geothermal drilling permit applications. Specifically, it mandates that the Secretary must confirm a permit application's completeness within 30 days and subsequently render a decision on complete applications within another 30 days.
Significant Issues
Several issues are noteworthy in the bill's proposed changes:
Increased Frequency of Leasing: The shift from biennial to annual leasing could strain planning and execution timelines for stakeholders involved in geothermal projects, potentially leading to higher administrative burdens.
Replacement Sales Requirement: The obligation to conduct replacement sales for any canceled or delayed sales may pose challenges in scheduling and resource allocation for both government officials and stakeholders in the industry.
Offering All Nominated Parcels: The requirement to offer all eligible parcels for leasing could spur conflicts if there are competing land uses or environmental concerns that have not been addressed in the current resource management framework.
Strict Deadlines for Drilling Permits: The tight deadlines for processing drilling permits could lead to rushed assessments and decisions, potentially compromising the evaluation quality and posing risks related to safety, environmental impacts, and community concerns.
Clarity on Incomplete Applications: The bill lacks specific guidance on procedural steps following the determination of an incomplete application, creating a potential for confusion and inefficiencies in the permitting process.
Potential Impact on the Public
The CLEAN Act could have mixed impacts on the general public. By potentially increasing the pace of geothermal energy development, the bill might contribute to greater utilization of renewable energy sources, aligning with broader environmental goals and providing economic benefits through job creation and energy cost savings. However, rushed permit evaluations could also raise concerns about inadequate environmental protections and the possibility of negative impacts on communities near geothermal sites.
Potential Impact on Stakeholders
Positive Impacts: For stakeholders within the geothermal energy sector, the bill might offer new opportunities by removing barriers to leasing parcels for development. The streamlined process for drilling permits could accelerate project timelines, benefiting businesses eager to capitalize on waiting investments.
Negative Impacts: Conversely, increased administrative frequency and stricter timelines may disproportionately affect smaller companies or organizations within the industry that lack resources to handle expedited processes. Additionally, conflicts arising from offering all nominated parcels could create legal or regulatory headaches, particularly for entities involved in land management or environmental advocacy.
Overall, while the CLEAN Act aims to revitalize geothermal energy leasing and permitting processes, careful consideration and balance will be necessary to ensure that it facilitates sustainable energy development without compromising environmental and community safeguards.
Issues
The amendment to Section 4(b) of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, which changes the term from '2 years' to 'year' for annual leasing, might impact planning and execution timelines for stakeholders in geothermal projects by increasing the frequency of administrative processes, as noted in Section 2(a). This could lead to increased administrative burdens and costs for smaller stakeholders or those less equipped to handle frequent leasing processes.
The introduction of replacement sales for canceled or delayed lease sales, as outlined in Section 2(a)(3), may create scheduling and resource allocation challenges for both the Department of the Interior and external stakeholders. This requirement could lead to inefficiencies and potential conflicts if not managed carefully.
The requirement for the Secretary of the Interior to offer all nominated parcels for geothermal development, as mandated in Section 2(a)(4), could lead to disputes arising from competing land uses or environmental considerations. Such conflicts may require additional legal or regulatory frameworks to address satisfactorily.
The strict deadlines imposed on the Secretary for consideration of geothermal drilling permits in Section 2(b)(h) could lead to rushed decisions or incomplete evaluations due to resource constraints or complex applications. This might compromise the quality and thoroughness of permit evaluations, potentially impacting environmental, safety, or community concerns.
The language regarding deadlines for geothermal drilling permits in Section 2(b)(h) may lack clarity on procedural steps following an incomplete application determination. Specifically, there might be a need for clearer guidelines on extensions or additional requirements for resubmissions, which could otherwise lead to applicant confusion and procedural inefficiencies.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this bill specifies that the legislation is officially named the "Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act" or the "CLEAN Act".
2. Geothermal leasing Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The amendments to the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 require the Secretary of the Interior to replace any canceled or delayed geothermal lease sales within the same year and ensure all suitable parcels in a state are offered for leasing. Additionally, the Secretary must notify applicants if a drilling permit application is complete within 30 days and issue a final decision on complete applications within another 30 days.