41 MARCH 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Geothermal Development on Public Lands Adapted from Information by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) The U.S. Department of the Interior announced significant strides in expanding geothermal energy on public lands, to help the country meet its goal of a carbon pollution-free power sector by 2035. Geothermal energy generates electricity with minimal carbon emissions and is replenished by heat sources deep in the earth. It can also be used to heat buildings, operate greenhouses, and support aquaculture operations. The BLM is proposing a new categorical exclusion (CX) to help accelerate the discovery of new geothermal resources. Under the National Environmental Policy Act, CXs are categories of actions that typically do not have significant impacts on the environment. When used appropriately, CXs eliminate the need for an environmental assessment (EA) as part of the permitting process. The CX would apply to geothermal resource confirmation operation plans of up to 20 acres, which can include drilling wells, core drilling, temperature gradient wells, and/or resource wells to confirm the existence of a geothermal resource, to improve injection support, or to demonstrate connections between wells. This permitting proposal would help accelerate the discovery of new geothermal resources throughout the West, especially in states like Nevada, home to some of the largest undeveloped geothermal potential in the country. Currently, geothermal developers must conduct two separate environmental reviews: one for initial exploration drilling and another to fully test the geothermal resource, even if both have similar environmental impacts. The proposal would apply only to geothermal resource confirmation operations on public lands and split estates. Further geothermal development would still require additional environmental analysis. Based on previous Department of Energy analysis, these permitting actions could significantly reduce permitting timelines and capital costs of geothermal deployment. The BLM has permitted clean energy projects on public lands with a total capacity of nearly 32 gigawatts of power - enough to power more than 14.5 million homes. This is the latest effort to improve the federal permitting process and accelerate project reviews. Today, there are 51 operating power plants producing geothermal energy from BLM-managed public lands. “The BLM is committed to supporting the responsible growth of geothermal energy on public lands,” said BLM Director Tracy StoneManning. “We need all the tools in the toolbox to reach a clean energy future, and this proposed categorical exclusion will be helpful in accelerating the process of locating new geothermal resources.” Photo courtesy of Fervo Energy. GEO j Sand j Manholes j Bentonite j Filter Sock j Sampling Bailers j Clear PVC Pipe j Locking Caps Atlantic Screen & Mfg., Inc. Manufacturers of Slotted & Perforated Pipe Ranging from 1/2” to 24” in Diameter 302-684-3197 FAX 302-684-0643 142 Broadkill Rd j Milton, DE 19968 www.atlantic-screen.com e-mail:atlantic@ce.net
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