Washington — The U.S. Department of the Interior said on Friday it was implementing emergency permitting procedures to accelerate reviews of geothermal energy development projects.
The projects that will be fast-tracked include three in Nevada led by Ormat, which received funding in 2020 during the first Trump administration for research and development.
“Geothermal energy is a reliable energy source that can power critical infrastructure for national security and help advance energy independence,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said. “We’re fast-tracking reliable energy projects while strengthening national security and supporting American workers.”
The Trump administration declared an “energy emergency” in President Donald Trump’s first days in office, allowing him to use a series of steps to fast-track or skip over lengthy environmental reviews and permitting processes for oil and gas production as well as mining.
His emergency orders did not apply to renewable energy like solar power or wind but now applies to geothermal, a form of renewable energy which harnesses heat generated within the Earth for heating, cooling and electricity generation.’
It is a technology that enjoys support from Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who has previously invested in geothermal company Fervo Energy.
Last week, the U.S. Geological Survey produced a report that said that geothermal energy in the Great Basin of Nevada and adjoining states could produce electricity equivalent to 10% of the current U.S. power supply.
Reporting by Katharine Jackson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama – Reuters
