This bill requires the Department of the Interior to increase the frequency of lease sales under the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 and establishes deadlines for consideration of geothermal drilling permits.

Specifically, Interior must increase the frequency of competitive geothermal lease sales in any state that has pending nominations of federal land to be leased for certain geothermal energy projects. Currently, Interior must hold lease sales at least once every two years. This bill requires Interior to hold a sale at least once a year. If a lease sale is canceled or delayed, then Interior must conduct a replacement sale during the same year. In conducting a lease sale in a state, Interior must offer all nominated parcels eligible for geothermal development and utilization under the resource management plan in effect for the state.

In addition, this bill requires Interior to notify an applicant whether or not its application for a geothermal drilling permit is complete within 30 days of receiving the application. If Interior determines that the application is complete, then it must issue a final decision on the application within 30 days of the date Interior sent the notification.

Link to bill here.