Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act updates the Energy Independence and Security Act geothermal research program. It adds definitions for closed-loop geothermal systems, next-generation geothermal systems, and supercritical geothermal resources. It directs the Department of Energy to include advanced tools, including machine learning, in hydrothermal research and to coordinate more closely with Interior and other federal agencies. It also strengthens the federal geothermal data system by requiring publicly available subsurface data, standardized attributes, map views, and data from fossil fuel, mining, critical-mineral, and other energy projects that can inform geothermal development.
The bill also requires a memorandum of understanding with Interior and other agencies to share geothermal-relevant data. Interior may commission supercritical geothermal exploration boreholes, and the resulting data must be made public. Interior must also study site-selection characteristics for supercritical geothermal development.
Who Benefits and How
Geothermal developers benefit from more usable federal subsurface data, map tools, and information drawn from mining, fossil fuel, and critical-mineral activity. Geothermal researchers benefit because next-generation and supercritical resources are explicitly inside the federal research program. DOE geothermal program staff benefit from clearer statutory authority to use advanced analytics. Interior geological staff benefit from authority to commission exploration boreholes and study candidate supercritical sites. Public data users benefit because the repository must make standardized geothermal-relevant datasets easier to search and compare.
Who Bears the Burden and How
DOE geothermal staff must update research planning, data tools, and agency coordination. Interior geological offices must negotiate the data-sharing memorandum, manage supercritical exploration work, and publish data from boreholes. Federal agencies holding mining, fossil fuel, critical-mineral, or energy-project data must contribute relevant information. Project data managers must standardize attributes and map views. Fossil fuel and mining operators may see previously separate subsurface data used to support geothermal development.
Key Provisions
- Adds statutory definitions for closed-loop geothermal systems, next-generation geothermal systems, and supercritical geothermal resources.
- Expands geothermal research to include advanced tools such as machine learning.
- Requires public subsurface data, common attributes, and map views in geothermal data repositories.
- Directs DOE and Interior to share geothermal-relevant data from mining, fossil fuel, critical-mineral, and energy projects.
- Authorizes Interior to commission supercritical geothermal exploration boreholes and publish the resulting data.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Expands federal geothermal research law to cover next-generation, closed-loop, and supercritical geothermal systems; adds advanced data tools such as machine learning; requires public subsurface data repositories; and authorizes Interior-led supercritical geothermal exploration work.
Key Policy Areas
Energy, Geothermal Research, Public Lands, Federal Data
Primary Purpose
Expands federal geothermal research law to cover next-generation, closed-loop, and supercritical geothermal systems; adds advanced data tools such as machine learning; requires public subsurface data repositories; and authorizes Interior-led supercritical geothermal exploration work.
Policy Domains
House resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Geothermal developers
- Geothermal researchers
- DOE geothermal program staff
- Interior geological staff
- Public data users
Identified Costs
- DOE geothermal staff
- Interior geological offices
- Federal energy data holders
- Project data managers
- Fossil fuel operators
- Mining operators
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
ReportedOrdered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and …
Introduced in House
Mr. Harrigan (for himself and Ms. Salinas) introduced the following …
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
DOE geothermal program staff, Federal energy data holders, Geothermal developers
Positive-direction: Geothermal developers, Public subsurface data users
Negative-direction: DOE geothermal program staff, Federal energy data holders
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "doe"
- → Department of Energy
- "interior"
- → Department of the Interior
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology