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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8665 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8665
To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to direct
research, development, demonstration, and commercial application
activities in support of supercritical geothermal and closed-loop
geothermal systems in supercritical various conditions, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 7, 2024
Mr. Lucas (for himself and Ms. Salinas) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to direct
research, development, demonstration, and commercial application
activities in support of supercritical geothermal and closed-loop
geothermal systems in supercritical various conditions, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Supercritical Geothermal Research
and Development Act''.
SEC. 2. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY.
(a) In General.--The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
is amended--
(1) in section 612 (42 U.S.C. 17191; relating to
definitions)--
(A) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph
(9); and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following
new paragraph:
``(8) Supercritical geothermal.--The term `supercritical
geothermal' means energy derived from a subsurface rock
resource in-situ existing at or above the supercritical
conditions of the primary fluid present.'';
(2) in section 613 (42 U.S.C. 17192; relating to
hydrothermal research and development), by striking ``advanced
geologic tools to assist'' and inserting ``advanced tools,
including machine learning algorithms, to assist'';
(3) in section 614 (42 U.S.C. 17193; relating to general
geothermal systems research and development)--
(A) in paragraph (1) of subsection (d), by striking
``among the Office of Fossil Energy, the Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy,'' and inserting
``across the Department''; and
(B) in subsection (h)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``and
publicly available subsurface data, including
data reported as part of fossil fuel and mining
operations,'' after ``geothermal drilling
information''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end
the following new subparagraphs:
``(C) Updates.--The repository established under
paragraph (1) shall be periodically updated in order to
carry out the following:
``(i) Standardize data in a uniform manner
to the maximum extent practicable and enable
analysis across different projects.
``(ii) Enhance the accessibility and
usability of data to increase analysis of
geothermal energy, including enhanced, closed-
loop, and supercritical geothermal, on
regional, local, and site-specific scales.
``(iii) Increase uses of data, including
data viewable by map and organization by common
attributes such as region.
``(iv) Make other improvements in
functionality and usability, as determined by
the Secretary.
``(D) Memorandum of understanding.--The Secretary
shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the
Secretary of the Interior, along with the heads of
other relevant Federal departments, for notifying,
sharing, and providing opportunities for additional
data collection regarding shared geothermal development
data from projects funded by each such department,
including data from mining, critical minerals, and
energy projects, such as subsurface heat data, seismic
data, lithology data, boundaries of State and federally
protected areas, and existing transmission capacity. To
the maximum extent practicable, activities conducted
under such a memorandum of understanding shall
prioritize heat, lithology, and strain profiles through
deep exploration boreholes and control points for deep
heat mapping and geothermal development.
``(E) Regional deep data probes.--The Secretary
shall work with the Secretary of the Interior, who
shall be responsible for commissioning the drilling of
deep exploration boreholes deeper than eight kilometers
in depth in representative geological provinces in the
United States to provide control points for deep heat
mapping and geothermal development. The resulting data
shall include an exploration of heat, lithology, and
strain profiles, and shall be shared publicly on the
drilling data repository.'';
(4) in section 615 (42 U.S.C. 17194; relating to enhanced
geothermal systems research and development)--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and''
after the semicolon;
(ii) in paragraph (12), by striking the
period and inserting ``; and''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
``(13) the research topics specified in subparagraphs (1)
through (12) in supercritical conditions.'';
(B) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:
``(8) Supercritical next generation geothermal testing.--
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this
paragraph, the Secretary shall take such actions as may be
necessary to ensure that at least one FORGE site has the
capabilities to include supercritical geothermal testing and,
if practicable and technically feasible, closed-loop geothermal
systems in supercritical conditions.''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(e) Supercritical Geothermal Research and Development Program.--
``(1) In general.--Within the Geothermal Technologies
Office of the Department, the Secretary shall support a program
of supercritical geothermal research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application activities and, if
practicable and technically feasible, closed-loop geothermal
systems in supercritical conditions.
``(2) Focus areas.--
``(A) In general.--The program described in
paragraph (1) shall focus on the following topics:
``(i) Well completion.
``(ii) Permeability creation and
management, including proppants and packers.
``(iii) Materials development and equipment
design, including power production, specific to
supercritical geothermal systems.
``(iv) Sensor development.
``(v) Water-rock geochemistry.
``(vi) Rock properties.
``(vii) Hard rock and deep drilling.
``(viii) Any other topics the Secretary
determines necessary.
``(B) Administration.--The Secretary may administer
grants to universities and private sector entities to
carry out activities on the topics specified in
subparagraph (A) and, to the maximum extent
practicable, share data, results, and information
publicly.
``(3) Report on water use.--Not later than five years after
the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary
shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate a report on the following:
``(A) Water use and estimated needs of enhanced
geothermal systems.
``(B) Water use and estimated needs for closed-
loop, and superhot geothermal energy production.
``(4) Next generation geothermal center of excellence.--
``(A) Establishment.--The Secretary shall award
grants through a competitive, merit-reviewed process,
to National Laboratories (as such term is defined in
section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
15801)), multi-institutional collaborations, or
institutes of higher education (or consortia thereof)
for the following:
``(i) The continuation and expansion of
research, development, demonstration, testing,
and commercial application activities
applicable to FORGE sites.
``(ii) The establishment of a next-
generation geothermal center of excellence.
``(B) Location.--In selecting institutions of
higher education for a center referred to in
subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consider the
following criteria:
``(i) Whether the institution hosts an
existing geothermal energy research and
development program.
``(ii) Whether the institution has proven
technical expertise to support geothermal
energy research.
``(iii) Whether the institution has access
to geothermal resources.
``(C) Purpose.--The center referred to in
subparagraph (A) shall coordinate among existing FORGE
sites, the Department, and national laboratories to
carry out the following:
``(i) Advance research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application of
enhanced geothermal energy technologies,
including supercritical geothermal
technologies, in response to industry and
commercial needs, including by partnering with
other academic or research institutions,
industry, non-governmental organizations, and
State, local, or Tribal governments.
``(ii) Foster collaboration for education,
research, and partnership initiatives in order
to support the technology, deployment, and
workforce needs of the United States geothermal
energy industry, including a focus on enhanced,
closed-loop, and supercritical geothermal
systems.
``(iii) Support workforce development
across the enhanced geothermal energy
development lifecycle.
``(iv) Provide educational, technical, and
analytical assistance on enhanced geothermal
systems to Federal agencies, industry, and
State, local, and Tribal governments.
``(v) Collect and disseminate information
on best practices in all areas relating to
developing and managing geothermal energy
resources and energy systems, including
enhanced, closed-loop, and supercritical
geothermal.
``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $5,000,000 for
each fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this
subsection.''; and
(5) in section 617 (42 U.S.C. 17196; relating to
organization and administration of programs)--
(A) in subsection (e), by striking ``Committee on
Science and Technology'' and inserting ``Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology''; and
(B) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
``(f) Progress Reports.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this subsection and every two years thereafter, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that contains the
following:
``(1) A description of the maximum potential of geothermal
resources in the United States.
``(2) Information relating to the results of projects
undertaken under this section.
``(3) An assessment of the barriers to commercialization of
enhanced, closed-loop, and supercritical geothermal
technologies.
``(4) Such other information as the Secretary considers
appropriate.''.
(b) Update to Geothermal Resource Assessment.--
(1) In general.--Section 2501 of the Energy Policy Act of
1992 (30 U.S.C. 1028) is amended--
(A) in subsection (c)--
(i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1),
by inserting ``quadrennially'' before
``update''; and
(ii) in paragraph (1)(D)(ii), by striking
``and'' after the semicolon;
(iii) in paragraph (2), by striking the
period and inserting ``; and''; and
(iv) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(3) assessing regions of the United States with
significant potential for supercritical geothermal.''; and
(B) by striking subsection (d).
(2) First update.--The first quadrennial update to the
geothermal resource assessment carried out by the United States
Geological Survey under subsection (c) of section 2501 of the
Energy Policy Act of 1992, as amended by paragraph (1), shall
be completed by not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
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Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-880, Part I.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 118-880, Part I.