Geothermal Energy: Bureau of Land Management Should Improve Permitting Process as Development Demand Grows on Federal Lands

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has seen a significant increase in land nominations, leases, and permits for geothermal development on federal lands since 2019. Geothermal projects use heat from the earth's interior to generate electricity. The BLM processes these nominations against land use plans, and once land is leased, developers submit plans for review and apply for permits.

The number of drilling permits approved annually by BLM has grown from seven in 2019 to 68 in 2024. However, geothermal developers and BLM officials have identified challenges, including inconsistent experience navigating the permitting process and limited visibility of permit data. These challenges may lead to longer development timelines and additional costs for developers.

The BLM has not yet finalized geothermal resources handbooks to address these issues, which have been in draft since 2022. As a result, the BLM lacks comprehensive information on the status of geothermal permits, making it difficult to track progress and determine if there is a growing backlog of permits. The GAO report highlights the need for the BLM to improve its permitting process to support the growing demand for geothermal energy.