Reps. Begich, Lee Introduce Geo POWER Act to Expand Next-Generation Geothermal Energy Nationwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 23, 2026 - Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) and Congresswoman Susie Lee (D-NV) introduced the Geothermal Power Opportunity with Expanded Regions (Geo POWER) Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at accelerating the development of next-generation geothermal energy projects across the United States. The Geo POWER Act establishes a new milestone-based demonstration program at the Department of Energy (DOE) to support innovative geothermal projects in regions that currently lack access to geothermal electricity. By pairing federal support with private investment, the bill seeks to unlock reliable, affordable, and scalable clean energy nationwide.

"Geothermal energy has enormous, untapped potential to deliver reliable power across America," said Congressman Nick Begich. "The Geo POWER Act will allow us to harness that potential by reducing risk, encouraging innovation, and expanding geothermal development into new regions, including in Alaska. By investing in innovation today, we can deliver affordable, dependable energy for American families in the long term."

"Here in Nevada and across the nation, geothermal is a promising and proven 24/7 clean energy source with immense potential for further growth," said Congresswoman Susie Lee. "This bipartisan bill will help lower energy costs and advance American energy independence by scaling and speeding up the development of both our state's - and our country's - vast geothermal resources. At a time when energy costs are increasing across the nation, we need to embrace an all-of-the-above approach to help bring down southern Nevadans' utility bills - this legislation, and the home-grown energy it supports, will do just that."

BACKGROUND:

Next-generation geothermal technologies, such as enhanced geothermal systems, can generate clean electricity in a wide range of geologies, far beyond traditional geothermal hotspots. However, high upfront costs and geological uncertainty have limited deployment.

The Geo POWER Act addresses these challenges by:

• Establishing a milestone-based financing program to reduce risk and ensure accountability
• Supporting projects that enable at least 30 megawatts of new geothermal capacity
• Prioritizing development in areas of the country with little or no existing geothermal power
• Encouraging data-sharing to accelerate future investment and innovation
• Leveraging private-sector capital to scale deployment

Geothermal power provides consistent, around-the-clock electricity, strengthening grid reliability while lowering long-term energy costs. The bill requires DOE to support multiple projects across different states and developers, ensuring a diverse and competitive geothermal market that benefits communities nationwide.

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