Efforts to Streamline Permitting of Geothermal Projects in the United States

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Journal

OSTI ID:1467102

Levine, Aaron L. ^[1]; Young, Katherine R. ^[1]

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1. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Geothermal permitting timelines in the United States can be a deterrent to new investment, with geothermal project development taking as long as seven to ten years. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) in part aimed to streamline aspects of the geothermal permitting process on federally managed public lands. This article summarizes the general regulatory process for developing geothermal projects in the United States and thereafter discusses efforts proposed or undertaken by the U.S. Congress, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, state governments, and project developers to increase permitting efficiency.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Geothermal Technologies Office
• Grant/Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1467102
• Report Number(s): NREL/JA-6A20-68387
• Journal Information: Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation Journal, Vol. 55, Issue 1; ISSN 1550-7157
• Publisher: Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
permitting
environmental
geothermal legislation
regulation
United States