Floor SpeechNeutral2026-07-20

NEXT-GENERATION GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT

ClimateEnvironmentEducation

Context

On 2026-07-20, Representative Brian Babin (R-TX-36) delivered a floor speech titled "NEXT-GENERATION GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT" in the House.

Full Text

NEXT-GENERATION GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4667-H4670] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] NEXT-GENERATION GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT Mr. BABIN. 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: H.R. 8790 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 ``Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act''. SEC. 2. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY. (a) In General.--The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-140) is amended-- (1) in section 612 (42 U.S.C. 17191; relating to definitions)-- (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8) as paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), and (10), respectively; (B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated, the following new paragraph: ``(1) Closed-loop geothermal systems.--The term `closed- loop geothermal systems' means a wellbore or subsurface circuit of wellbores containing a fluid heated through contact with the borehole wall.''; (C) by inserting after paragraph (8), as so redesignated, the following new paragraph: ``(9) Next-generation geothermal systems.--The term `next- generation geothermal systems' means-- ``(A) enhanced geothermal systems; ``(B) closed-loop geothermal systems; ``(C) in supercritical conditions-- ``(i) enhanced geothermal systems; or ``(ii) closed-loop geothermal systems; and ``(D) other innovative energy technologies.''; and (D) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(11) Supercritical geothermal.--The term `supercritical geothermal' means energy derived from a subsurface rock resource in-situ existing at or above the supercritical conditions, whether relating to temperature or pressure, of the primary fluid present.''; (2) in section 613(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 17192(b)(1); 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 subsection (d)(1), 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 and next-generation geothermal systems 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.-- ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of the Interior, and 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 the Department of the Interior and each such other relevant 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. ``(ii) Prioritization.--To the maximum extent practicable, activities conducted pursuant to a memorandum of understanding under clause (i) shall prioritize heat, lithology, and strain profiles through deep exploration boreholes and control points for deep heat mapping and geothermal development. ``(E) Regional data probes.--The Secretary of the Interior may, in consultation with the Secretary, commission the drilling of supercritical geothermal exploration boreholes 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 repository established under paragraph (1). ``(F) Study on site selection characteristics for supercritical geothermal.--The Secretary of the Interior shall, in consultation with the Secretary, conduct a study on site selection characteristics in representative geological provinces in the United States, including the United States territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, for supercritical geothermal.''; (4) in section 615 (42 U.S.C. 17194; relating to enhanced geothermal systems research and development)-- (A) in the section heading, by striking ``enhanced'' and inserting ``next-generation''; (B) in subsection (a), by striking ``enhanced'' and inserting ``next-generation''; (C) in subsection (b)-- (i) in the heading, by inserting ``and Closed-loop'' after ``Enhanced''; (ii) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting ``and closed-loop'' after ``enhanced''; (iii) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon; (iv) in paragraph (12), by striking the period and inserting ``; and''; and (v) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(13) the research topics specified in subparagraphs (1) through (12) in supercritical conditions.''; (D) in subsection (c)-- (i) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and (ii) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new paragraph: ``(7) 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 next-generation geothermal testing, including in supercritical conditions.''; and (E) by adding at the end the following new subsections: ``(e) Next-generation Geothermal Research and Development Program.-- ``(1) In general.--Within the Geothermal Technologies Office of the Department, the Secretary shall support a program of next-generation geothermal research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities, including in supercritical conditions. ``(2) Focus areas.-- ``(A) In general.--The program described in paragraph (1) shall focus on the following topics: [[Page H4668]] ``(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) Prioritization.--In carrying out next-generation geothermal research under the program described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall prioritize projects best able to produce iterative data for deep drilling projects in unique geodynamic settings on the following topics: ``(i) Characterization and crustal stress. ``(ii) Lab work. ``(iii) Drilling. ``(iv) Stimulation. ``(v) Power production. ``(C) Administration.--The Secretary may administer grants to institutions of higher education 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 next-generation geothermal energy production. ``(C) The ability of next-generation geothermal systems to use brackish and nonpotable water. ``(D) The withdrawal and consumption of water per megawatt hour of next-generation geothermal systems, as compared to other power-generation technologies. ``(E) Technological and operational improvements that could lead to decreases in water withdrawal and consumption of next-generation geothermal systems. ``(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, public-private partnerships, 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 F

Referenced legislation: HR8790, HR8790

View original source →

NEXT-GENERATION GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 118 (Monday, July 20, 2026)] [House] [Pages H4667-H4670] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] NEXT-GENERATION GEOTHERMAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT Mr. BABIN. 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: H.R. 8790 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 ``Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act''. SEC. 2. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY. (a) In General.--The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-140) is amended-- (1) in section 612 (42 U.S.C. 17191; relating to definitions)-- (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8) as paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), and (10), respectively; (B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated, the following new paragraph: ``(1) Closed-loop geothermal systems.--The term `closed- loop geothermal systems' means a wellbore or subsurface circuit of wellbores containing a fluid heated through contact with the borehole wall.''; (C) by inserting after paragraph (8), as so redesignated, the following new paragraph: ``(9) Next-generation geothermal systems.--The term `next- generation geothermal systems' means-- ``(A) enhanced geothermal systems; ``(B) closed-loop geothermal systems; ``(C) in supercritical conditions-- ``(i) enhanced geothermal systems; or ``(ii) closed-loop geothermal systems; and ``(D) other innovative energy technologies.''; and (D) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(11) Supercritical geothermal.--The term `supercritical geothermal' means energy derived from a subsurface rock resource in-situ existing at or above the supercritical conditions, whether relating to temperature or pressure, of the primary fluid present.''; (2) in section 613(b)(1) (42 U.S.C. 17192(b)(1); 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 subsection (d)(1), 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 and next-generation geothermal systems 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.-- ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of the Interior, and 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 the Department of the Interior and each such other relevant 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. ``(ii) Prioritization.--To the maximum extent practicable, activities conducted pursuant to a memorandum of understanding under clause (i) shall prioritize heat, lithology, and strain profiles through deep exploration boreholes and control points for deep heat mapping and geothermal development. ``(E) Regional data probes.--The Secretary of the Interior may, in consultation with the Secretary, commission the drilling of supercritical geothermal exploration boreholes 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 repository established under paragraph (1). ``(F) Study on site selection characteristics for supercritical geothermal.--The Secretary of the Interior shall, in consultation with the Secretary, conduct a study on site selection characteristics in representative geological provinces in the United States, including the United States territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, for supercritical geothermal.''; (4) in section 615 (42 U.S.C. 17194; relating to enhanced geothermal systems research and development)-- (A) in the section heading, by striking ``enhanced'' and inserting ``next-generation''; (B) in subsection (a), by striking ``enhanced'' and inserting ``next-generation''; (C) in subsection (b)-- (i) in the heading, by inserting ``and Closed-loop'' after ``Enhanced''; (ii) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting ``and closed-loop'' after ``enhanced''; (iii) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and'' after the semicolon; (iv) in paragraph (12), by striking the period and inserting ``; and''; and (v) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(13) the research topics specified in subparagraphs (1) through (12) in supercritical conditions.''; (D) in subsection (c)-- (i) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and (ii) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new paragraph: ``(7) 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 next-generation geothermal testing, including in supercritical conditions.''; and (E) by adding at the end the following new subsections: ``(e) Next-generation Geothermal Research and Development Program.-- ``(1) In general.--Within the Geothermal Technologies Office of the Department, the Secretary shall support a program of next-generation geothermal research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities, including in supercritical conditions. ``(2) Focus areas.-- ``(A) In general.--The program described in paragraph (1) shall focus on the following topics: [[Page H4668]] ``(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) Prioritization.--In carrying out next-generation geothermal research under the program described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall prioritize projects best able to produce iterative data for deep drilling projects in unique geodynamic settings on the following topics: ``(i) Characterization and crustal stress. ``(ii) Lab work. ``(iii) Drilling. ``(iv) Stimulation. ``(v) Power production. ``(C) Administration.--The Secretary may administer grants to institutions of higher education 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 next-generation geothermal energy production. ``(C) The ability of next-generation geothermal systems to use brackish and nonpotable water. ``(D) The withdrawal and consumption of water per megawatt hour of next-generation geothermal systems, as compared to other power-generation technologies. ``(E) Technological and operational improvements that could lead to decreases in water withdrawal and consumption of next-generation geothermal systems. ``(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, public-private partnerships, 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 F Referenced legislation: HR8790, HR8790