Geothermal Permitting and NEPA Timeline Analysis

Young, Katherine

doi:10.15121/1678730

Title: Geothermal Permitting and NEPA Timeline Analysis

Dataset
Other Related Research

Abstract

In this analysis, we outline the types of NEPA-related analyses and approvals (e.g., environmental assessment), and we provide examples of geothermal development activities (e.g., well drilling) that might require each type of approval, including an overview and discussion of the specific permits. We conducted an in-depth analysis of timelines specific to each NEPA analysis type, and we analyzed a sample of geothermal projects to identify factors that increased NEPA review timelines. Based on that analysis, we identified proven and potential strategies that can assist geothermal projects by lowering the time necessary to navigate the NEPA process, while maintaining the efficacy of the federal environmental review intact. We also identified areas of potential improvement in NEPA efficiency within each phase of geothermal development. Shortening project timelines can effectively decrease the perceived risk profiles of geothermal development projects. This submission includes a paper, poster, and presentation for the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) summarizing geothermal permitting and NEPA timeline analysis. Also included are two spreadsheets detailing the NEPA timeline analysis and environmental assessments (EA).

Authors:: Young, Katherine

Publication Date:: 2014-09-30

Other Number(s):: 1258

DOE Contract Number:: FY14 AOP 4.2.0.1

Research Org.:: USDOE Geothermal Data Repository (United States); National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Geothermal Technologies Program (EE-2C)

Collaborations:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Subject:: 15 Geothermal Energy

Keywords:: geothermal; energy; NEPA; National Environmental Policy Act; Permitting; Permit; Timeline; NEPA Database; CE; CX; Categorical Exclusion; Determination of NEPA Adequacy; DNA; Environmental Assessment; EA; Enviromental Impact Statement; EIS; OpenEI; Species

Geolocation:: 75.0714,-53.8316|13.518,-53.8316|13.518,-167.7267|75.0714,-167.7267|75.0714,-53.8316

OSTI Identifier:: 1678730

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.15121/1678730

Project Location:

Citation Formats


                    Young, Katherine. Geothermal Permitting and NEPA Timeline Analysis.  United States: N. p., 2014. 
        Web.  doi:10.15121/1678730.

Copy to clipboard


                    Young, Katherine. Geothermal Permitting and NEPA Timeline Analysis.  United States.  doi:https://doi.org/10.15121/1678730

Copy to clipboard


                    Young, Katherine. 2014.  
"Geothermal Permitting and NEPA Timeline Analysis".  United States.  doi:https://doi.org/10.15121/1678730.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1678730. Pub date:Tue Sep 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014

Copy to clipboard


                    
@article{osti_1678730,

  title        = {Geothermal Permitting and NEPA Timeline Analysis},

  author       = {Young, Katherine},

  abstractNote = {In this analysis, we outline the types of NEPA-related analyses and approvals (e.g., environmental assessment), and we provide examples of geothermal development activities (e.g., well drilling) that might require each type of approval, including an overview and discussion of the specific permits. We conducted an in-depth analysis of timelines specific to each NEPA analysis type, and we analyzed a sample of geothermal projects to identify factors that increased NEPA review timelines. Based on that analysis, we identified proven and potential strategies that can assist geothermal projects by lowering the time necessary to navigate the NEPA process, while maintaining the efficacy of the federal environmental review intact. We also identified areas of potential improvement in NEPA efficiency within each phase of geothermal development. Shortening project timelines can effectively decrease the perceived risk profiles of geothermal development projects. This submission includes a paper, poster, and presentation for the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) summarizing geothermal permitting and NEPA timeline analysis. Also included are two spreadsheets detailing the NEPA timeline analysis and environmental assessments (EA).},

  doi          = {10.15121/1678730},

  journal      = {},

  number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {2014},

  month        = {9}

}

Copy to clipboard

Dataset:

View Dataset

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15121/1678730

Save / Share:

Export Metadata

Save to My Library

Similar records in DOE Data Explorer and OSTI.GOV collections:

Economic Impact of Permitting Timelines on Produced Geothermal Power

Dataset Neupane, Ghanashyam ; Adhikari, Birendra

Despite having a large geothermal power potential in the United States, only a small fraction has been developed for power generation. Various barriers, including technical, financial, and regulatory permit delays, are attributed to lower contribution of geothermal energy in the national grid. Unpredictable environmental reviews and permitting timelines are some of the non-technical barriers that can cause delays in geothermal exploration and utilization plans. This study shows that the geothermal permitting timelines can vary from six months to several years, depending on the presence or absence of biological resources, cultural resources, and sensitive environmental issues at the project site. Themore »« less
Geothermal Permitting and NEPA TImelines

Conference Young, Katherine R. ; Witherbee, Kermit ; Levine, Aaron ; ... - Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
Geothermal Project Database Supporting Barriers and Viability Analysis for Development by 2020 Timeline

Dataset Wall, Anna

This data provides the underlying project-level analysis and data sources complied in response to the DOE request to determine the amount of geothermal capacity that could be available to meet the President's request to double renewable energy capacity by 2020. The enclosed data contains compiled data on individual project names and locations (by geothermal area and region), ownership, estimated nameplate capacity, and project status, and also contains inferred data on the barriers and viability of the project to meet a 2020 development timeline. The analysis of this data is discussed in the attached NREL report.
Geothermal Development and the Use of Categorical Exclusions Under NEPA

Dataset Young, Katherine ; Levine, Aaron

This study focuses primarily on the Categorial Exclusions (CX) process and its applicability to geothermal exploration. In this paper, we: - Provide generalized background information on CXs, including previous NEPA reports addressing CXs, the process for developing CXs, and the role of extraordinary circumstances; - Examine the history of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) geothermal CXs; - Compare current CXs for oil, gas, and geothermal energy; - Describe bills proposing new statutory CXs; - Examine the possibility of standardizing geothermal CXs across federal agencies; and - Present analysis from the Geothermal NEPA Database and other sources on the potentialmore »« less
Assessment of Economic Impact of Permitting Timelines on Produced Geothermal Power in Imperial County, California

Conference Neupane, Ghanashyam ; Adhikari, Birendra ; Wiggins, Adrian

Despite having a large geothermal power potential in the United States, only a small fraction has been developed for power generation. Various barriers, including technical, financial, and regulatory permit delays, are attributed to lower contribution of geothermal energy in the national grid. Unpredictable environmental reviews and permitting timelines are some of the non-technical barriers that can cause delays in geothermal exploration and utilization plans. Our study shows that the geothermal permitting timelines can vary from six months to several years, depending on the presence or absence of biological resources, cultural resources, and sensitive environmental issues at the project site. Themore »« less

Similar Records