S. 4605 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, May 20, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryLets Interior collect geothermal lease fees
The bill gives the Department of the Interior the power to charge companies for the costs of reviewing their applications for geothermal leases on federal land and for inspecting their geothermal projects once they're underway. Interior can reduce these fees if paying the full amount would be too hard for a company or if a smaller fee would help develop more geothermal resources. The bill sets an expiration date of September 30, 2032.
How it affects you
This affects companies that want to explore or develop geothermal energy on federal land, as they would now face fees to cover the government's administrative costs. Most everyday people won't directly notice a change, though the fees could eventually influence how geothermal projects are priced or developed in the U.S.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, May 20, 2026)
Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2026
This bill expands the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to give the Department of the Interior the authority to collect certain fees from applicants for, or holders of, geothermal leases through September 30, 2032. Specifically, Interior may direct those applicants or leaseholders to reimburse the United States for costs from (1) processing applications for geothermal leases on federal land, such as applications for geothermal drilling permits; and (2) inspecting and monitoring geothermal exploration and development activities, including reclamation activities.
Interior may reduce the amount of the fee if it determines that (1) the full reimbursement would impose an economic hardship on the applicant, or (2) a less than full reimbursement is necessary to promote the greatest use of geothermal resources.
Interior may use those fees only to the extent that they are provided in advance in appropriations acts for (1) processing applications for geothermal leases, and (2) inspecting and monitoring related exploration and development activities.
Within five years of the bill's enactment, Interior must submit to Congress a report that includes an assessment of how the fees affect Interior's geothermal leasing program and any recommendations for updates to the fees and the program.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionS. 4605
A BILL
Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2026
Sponsor: Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) · Introduced May 20, 2026 · Energy · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jul 15, 2026: “Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.”