Congress·In Committee·S. 4116

Geothermal Energy: New Power Plant Grants

Geo POWER Act

Legislative Progress

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Law

This bill creates a new program at the Department of Energy to help build advanced geothermal power plants. Geothermal energy uses heat from deep underground to create electricity without burning fossil fuels, providing a steady source of clean power that works 24/7.
The program focuses on "next-generation" technology that can work in regions where geothermal energy isn't used today. It specifically prioritizes projects in new areas of the country and those located on or near Indian land.
To protect taxpayer money, the government would use "milestone-based" financing. This means companies only receive federal funding after they prove they have met specific technical or financial goals, such as successful drilling or hitting power production targets.
The bill requires the government to support at least three different projects in at least three different states. Each project must be large enough to eventually provide at least 30 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to power thousands of homes.
By funding these early demonstration projects, the bill aims to gather data that makes it less risky for private companies to invest in geothermal energy. This is intended to lower the high upfront costs of drilling and help expand clean energy production across the United States.