Plain English
GovGreed Synthesis · 2026-05-20
Streamlining Thermal Energy through Advanced Mechanisms Act or the STEAM Act This 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.
Market Impact Map
Action Timeline
2026-03-05
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
2026-03-05
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2026-03-05
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
2025-12-16
Subcommittee Hearings Held
2025-12-09
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
2025-02-06
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
2025-02-06
Introduced in House
2025-02-06
Introduced in House
Full Bill Text
119 HR 1077 IH: Streamlining Thermal Energy through Advanced Mechanisms Act U.S. House of Representatives 2025-02-06 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1077 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 6, 2025 Ms. Lee of Nevada (for herself and Ms. Maloy ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to expedite geothermal exploration and development in previously studied or developed areas. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Streamlining Thermal Energy through Advanced Mechanisms Act or the STEAM Act . 2. NEPA Review Section 390 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 15942 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by inserting , or the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 ( 30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq. ) for the purpose of exploration or development of geothermal resources after or gas ; and (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (2), by striking or gas and inserting , gas, or geothermal ; and (B) in paragraph (3), by striking or gas and inserting , gas, or geothermal .
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