Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act
The House debated H.R. 8790, the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, which directs the Department of Energy to run research, development, demonstration, and commercial application programs for next-generation and closed-loop geothermal systems, including grants, testing at FORGE research sites, expanded public geothermal drilling data, and Interior Department exploration boreholes. Supporters from both parties said the bill would help develop reliable power from underground heat, address rising electricity costs, and keep the U.S. a leader in the technology, with members citing growing demand on the electric grid. The bill was brought up under a suspension of the rules, and members were given five days to revise and extend their remarks.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .
“I want the House to pass this bill. It supports research and development for new types of geothermal energy.”
“Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8790) to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to direct research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities in support of next-generation geothermal and closed-loop geothermal systems in various conditions, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: ``Sec. 615. Next-generation geothermal systems research and”
Official Congressional Record
Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8790) to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to direct research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities in support of next-generation geothermal and closed-loop geothermal systems in various conditions, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: ``Sec. 615. Next-generation geothermal systems research and
“I ask that all members have five days to add more material to the record on this bill.”
“Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 8790, the bill that is now under consideration.”
Official Congressional Record
Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 8790, the bill that is now under consideration.
“I support this bill. It directs the government to research and develop new geothermal energy technology. New drilling methods allow us to produce reliable power in more places across the country. This bill helps share drilling data and provides grants to test and improve these energy projects.”
“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8790, the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, sponsored by my colleagues, Representatives Harrigan and Salinas. This bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to include novel geothermal approaches and directs the Department of Energy to support these baseload energy-producing technologies. Thanks to breakthroughs in drilling methods pioneered by the oil-and- gas sector, we can now drill deeper and increase rock permeability. As a result, regions of the United States that were once unable to support baseload geothermal electricity generation are now viable for power production. This comes at an important time as we race to connect baseload energy to the grid to ensure that we have both reliable power and the grid stability needed to support continued economic growth and technological advancement. The bill directs the Department of Energy to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of the Interior to facilitate the sharing of geothermal data and to improve understanding of the subsurface. This legislation also provides a critical update to the Department of the Interior’s drilling data repository by including additional data sources, periodic updates, and standardized data to enhance its overall functionality and usability. Curating data from public lands gives the government, academia, and industry a better understanding of the subsurface and the resources beneath our feet. This bill also builds upon the success of the Department of Energy’s Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy, or FORGE, by requiring next-generation geothermal testing at one or more additional FORGE sites, if deemed necessary by the Department of Energy. Research conducted at FORGE has provided clear evidence that, through innovative drilling, next-generation geothermal systems can be used to generate power. The Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act authorizes the Department of Energy to foster this emerging industry by awarding grants to accelerate the development, testing, and implementation of innovative technologies that improve the performance of next-generation geothermal energy projects. Madam Speaker, I will express my appreciation for the work of Representatives Harrigan and Salinas on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”
Official Congressional Record
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8790, the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, sponsored by my colleagues, Representatives Harrigan and Salinas. This bill amends the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to include novel geothermal approaches and directs the Department of Energy to support these baseload energy-producing technologies. Thanks to breakthroughs in drilling methods pioneered by the oil-and- gas sector, we can now drill deeper and increase rock permeability. As a result, regions of the United States that were once unable to support baseload geothermal electricity generation are now viable for power production. This comes at an important time as we race to connect baseload energy to the grid to ensure that we have both reliable power and the grid stability needed to support continued economic growth and technological advancement. The bill directs the Department of Energy to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of the Interior to facilitate the sharing of geothermal data and to improve understanding of the subsurface. This legislation also provides a critical update to the Department of the Interior’s drilling data repository by including additional data sources, periodic updates, and standardized data to enhance its overall functionality and usability. Curating data from public lands gives the government, academia, and industry a better understanding of the subsurface and the resources beneath our feet. This bill also builds upon the success of the Department of Energy’s Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy, or FORGE, by requiring next-generation geothermal testing at one or more additional FORGE sites, if deemed necessary by the Department of Energy. Research conducted at FORGE has provided clear evidence that, through innovative drilling, next-generation geothermal systems can be used to generate power. The Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act authorizes the Department of Energy to foster this emerging industry by awarding grants to accelerate the development, testing, and implementation of innovative technologies that improve the performance of next-generation geothermal energy projects. Madam Speaker, I will express my appreciation for the work of Representatives Harrigan and Salinas on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
“I want the House to pass this bill. Electricity costs are rising, and we need more reliable clean energy. This bill helps the Department of Energy research and develop advanced geothermal power so we can use it across the country.”
“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, Americans are facing an affordability crisis. When I talk with Oregonians, they tell me one of the biggest challenges they face right now is the rising cost of electricity. In addition to rising demand, aging infrastructure, rising fuel costs, and climate-change-driven disasters like winter ice storms, wildfires, and drought are also driving up the cost of electricity. We need more tools to ensure we can deliver the reliability and affordability that consumers need. Geothermal energy already delivers clean, round-the-clock power in the Western U.S. Building on these innovations, next-gen geothermal technologies can play an important part in the transition to an affordable and reliable clean energy future across the country. Oregon is already a leader in this space, producing the fifth most geothermal electricity in the U.S. Oregon Institute of Technology opened Oregon’s first geothermal power plant at their Klamath Falls campus, and for 60 years the school has heated buildings and supplied hot water with geothermal energy. Now, Oregon is leading the charge with next-gen geothermal technologies. Newberry Volcano in central Oregon is a hot spot--anybody laugh?--for geothermal innovation. The industry is piloting commercial- scale power plants there, and they are demonstrating new technologies that will allow geothermal systems to operate in extreme heat conditions, which greatly expands the role that these resources can play in our energy mix. This is not just about Oregon or the Mountain West anymore. Next-gen geothermal technologies will make it feasible to deploy geothermal energy across the country and serve as a critical tool in the fight against climate change. This renewable energy will help meet America’s energy needs across the Nation. The Federal Government needs to lean in, partner with the private sector, and ensure these technologies move quickly to market so that Americans feel the benefit sooner rather than later. Madam Speaker, H.R. 8790, the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, will support geothermal research, development, demonstration, and commercialization efforts at the Department of Energy to overcome the remaining engineering challenges and take this technology from promise to reality. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”
Official Congressional Record
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, Americans are facing an affordability crisis. When I talk with Oregonians, they tell me one of the biggest challenges they face right now is the rising cost of electricity. In addition to rising demand, aging infrastructure, rising fuel costs, and climate-change-driven disasters like winter ice storms, wildfires, and drought are also driving up the cost of electricity. We need more tools to ensure we can deliver the reliability and affordability that consumers need. Geothermal energy already delivers clean, round-the-clock power in the Western U.S. Building on these innovations, next-gen geothermal technologies can play an important part in the transition to an affordable and reliable clean energy future across the country. Oregon is already a leader in this space, producing the fifth most geothermal electricity in the U.S. Oregon Institute of Technology opened Oregon’s first geothermal power plant at their Klamath Falls campus, and for 60 years the school has heated buildings and supplied hot water with geothermal energy. Now, Oregon is leading the charge with next-gen geothermal technologies. Newberry Volcano in central Oregon is a hot spot--anybody laugh?--for geothermal innovation. The industry is piloting commercial- scale power plants there, and they are demonstrating new technologies that will allow geothermal systems to operate in extreme heat conditions, which greatly expands the role that these resources can play in our energy mix. This is not just about Oregon or the Mountain West anymore. Next-gen geothermal technologies will make it feasible to deploy geothermal energy across the country and serve as a critical tool in the fight against climate change. This renewable energy will help meet America’s energy needs across the Nation. The Federal Government needs to lean in, partner with the private sector, and ensure these technologies move quickly to market so that Americans feel the benefit sooner rather than later. Madam Speaker, H.R. 8790, the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, will support geothermal research, development, demonstration, and commercialization efforts at the Department of Energy to overcome the remaining engineering challenges and take this technology from promise to reality. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
“I want Congress to pass this bill to support research into advanced geothermal energy. We need more reliable power for our growing electric grid, but we lack the technology to use heat deep underground. This bill directs the Department of Energy to help solve those technical problems.”
“Madam Speaker, when Americans think about energy, they usually think about things that we can see: oil fields, natural gas pipelines, nuclear power plants, wind farms. One of the greatest energy opportunities in our country isn’t aboveground. It is beneath our feet. That is why I am proud to rise in support of my Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, legislation I am leading with Congresswoman Salinas. America has an extraordinary opportunity to unlock a new source of reliable, around-the-clock power. A single supercritical geothermal well has the potential to produce more than seven times the energy of a conventional geothermal well. Experts estimate next-generation geothermal could ultimately provide up to 90 gigawatts of electricity right here at home. The problem is not that our country lacks the resources, but we lack the technology to fully unlock it. This bill helps close that gap. It directs the Department of Energy to tackle the engineering challenges that still stand in the way of commercialization, expands real-world testing, and strengthens the partnerships between our national labs, universities, and private industry that have always driven American innovation. This is exactly what the government should be doing, not picking winners and losers, but helping solve the kinds of technical challenges the private sector can’t solve alone. Reliable baseload power is no longer a luxury. As AI transforms our economy, manufacturing returns to America, and electricity demand continues to grow, we need to be investing in the technologies that will power the next generation. More reliable American energy means lower costs for hardworking families, a stronger electric grid, and less dependence on foreign adversaries. This bill does exactly that. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Salinas for her partnership, and I urge all of my colleagues to support the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act.”
Official Congressional Record
Madam Speaker, when Americans think about energy, they usually think about things that we can see: oil fields, natural gas pipelines, nuclear power plants, wind farms. One of the greatest energy opportunities in our country isn’t aboveground. It is beneath our feet. That is why I am proud to rise in support of my Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, legislation I am leading with Congresswoman Salinas. America has an extraordinary opportunity to unlock a new source of reliable, around-the-clock power. A single supercritical geothermal well has the potential to produce more than seven times the energy of a conventional geothermal well. Experts estimate next-generation geothermal could ultimately provide up to 90 gigawatts of electricity right here at home. The problem is not that our country lacks the resources, but we lack the technology to fully unlock it. This bill helps close that gap. It directs the Department of Energy to tackle the engineering challenges that still stand in the way of commercialization, expands real-world testing, and strengthens the partnerships between our national labs, universities, and private industry that have always driven American innovation. This is exactly what the government should be doing, not picking winners and losers, but helping solve the kinds of technical challenges the private sector can’t solve alone. Reliable baseload power is no longer a luxury. As AI transforms our economy, manufacturing returns to America, and electricity demand continues to grow, we need to be investing in the technologies that will power the next generation. More reliable American energy means lower costs for hardworking families, a stronger electric grid, and less dependence on foreign adversaries. This bill does exactly that. Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Salinas for her partnership, and I urge all of my colleagues to support the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act.
“Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague Mr. Harrigan for his leadership on this sensible, bipartisan bill, and I urge everyone to vote ``yes’’ on H.R. 8790. I yield back the balance of my time.”
Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague Mr. Harrigan for his leadership on this sensible, bipartisan bill, and I urge everyone to vote ``yes’’ on H.R. 8790. I yield back the balance of my time.
“I want the House to pass this bill. It directs the Department of Energy to research and develop advanced geothermal energy. This will help America produce more reliable power and stay a leader in this technology.”
“Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Madam Speaker, the need for the United States to increase reliable baseload energy is very clear. To help meet this demand, the House has recently passed multiple bills to accelerate the development of geothermal energy. This legislation builds on those efforts and will help geothermal play an even greater role in meeting our Nation’s energy needs. H.R. 8790 authorizes and directs the Department of Energy to support the research and development of next-generation geothermal technologies, helping ensure that American leadership in this emerging industry remains number one. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Harrigan for his leadership on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this simple bipartisan measure. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.”
Official Congressional Record
Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Madam Speaker, the need for the United States to increase reliable baseload energy is very clear. To help meet this demand, the House has recently passed multiple bills to accelerate the development of geothermal energy. This legislation builds on those efforts and will help geothermal play an even greater role in meeting our Nation’s energy needs. H.R. 8790 authorizes and directs the Department of Energy to support the research and development of next-generation geothermal technologies, helping ensure that American leadership in this emerging industry remains number one. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Harrigan for his leadership on this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support this simple bipartisan measure. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
