Plain Language Summary
# STEAM Act Summary **What It Would Do:** The STEAM Act would speed up the approval process for geothermal energy projects by streamlining environmental reviews. Currently, geothermal drilling projects must undergo detailed environmental assessments under federal law. This bill would allow certain geothermal drilling activities to skip these lengthy reviews—specifically when drilling occurs in areas where drilling has already happened within the past five years, or in established geothermal fields where drilling was already anticipated in previous land-use plans. **Who It Affects:** The bill primarily benefits geothermal energy companies and developers looking to expand operations, and could indirectly benefit consumers through potentially faster renewable energy development.
Environmental and conservation groups may have concerns about reduced environmental oversight, while proponents argue it removes unnecessary red tape for a clean energy source. **Current Status:** The bill (S. 456) was introduced by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. The bill focuses on renewable energy development and falls under the broader categories of alternative energy resources and electric power generation.
CRS Official Summary
Streamlining Thermal Energy through Advanced Mechanisms Act or the STEAM ActThis bill expedites the environmental review of certain geothermal energy activities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Specifically, the bill expands the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to include certain geothermal exploration or development activities in an existing categorical exclusion from NEPA for certain oil or gas activities. A categorical exclusion applies to a class of actions that do not require an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement under NEPA.The categorical exclusion established by the bill applies to drilling a geothermal well (1) in an area where drilling has occurred previously within the five years prior to the date when drilling begins; or (2) within a developed field for which an approved land use plan or environmental document prepared under NEPA determined drilling to be a reasonably foreseeable activity, so long as the plan or document was approved within the five years prior to the date when drilling begins.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.