Ocasio Cortez Reintroduces Geothermal Cost Recovery Authority Act in 119th Congress

Washington, D.C.- Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) released the following statement this week after she re-introduced the Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act, which passed the United States House of Representatives in the 118th Congress:

"Geothermal energy is a promising and growing source of renewable energy. Fortunately, breakthroughs in technology are expanding where geothermal energy can be developed and with the technological advancements we are seeing now, the Bureau of Land Management needs to scale up the deployment of this clean energy while remaining diligent about permitting responsibility. That includes considering public input and respecting Indigenous knowledge and tribal consultation.

"This bill will allow the Bureau of Land Management the flexibility to charge cost recovery for things like inspections and monitoring and enable them to review permit applications. This flexibility will improve timelines without sacrificing the review.

"I appreciate my colleagues across the aisle who worked with us on the language in my bill. At a time when permitting is a contentious word in Washington, the success of this bill last Congress shows both parties can come together on commonsense approaches."

The Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act enables the Department of the Interior to recover costs for geothermal permitting from lease applicants or leaseholders, similar to the cost-recovery authority the Department already has for wind, solar, and oil and gas.

Read the full text of the bill here

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