Senators and witnesses press for permitting fixes to speed Utah geothermal, grid build-out

At a Senate hearing, lawmakers and witnesses pressed for federal changes to ease permitting for geothermal projects and transmission lines, saying current reviews and judicial delays are slowing efforts such as Utah's Operation GigaWatt.

The hearing exchange centered on three reforms witnesses said would speed development: remove duplicative environmental reviews for geothermal exploration, streamline permitting at brownfields and existing sites, and give states greater authority to carry out federal permitting processes. "We should streamline that process," one witness said, urging removal of "the duplicative, environmental analysis that's required for geothermal exploration."

Why it matters: Witnesses and members said unlocking geothermal and small modular reactors in Western states will require faster approvals and more transmission to carry new generation to load centers. One witness warned of long delays in building lines, saying transmission projects have sometimes "nearly turned 21" years because of federal reviews and court challenges. That delay, the witness said, constrains the ability to connect new renewable and advanced-energy facilities to the grid.

Local officials framed the trade-offs differently. A former mayor who spoke to the panel said local and state regulation also adds to project costs, noting "of the 24% of the cost of a new home that's directly related to government regulation," much of that share stems from local and state requirements. That, witnesses said, supports efforts to align federal processes with state and local practices rather than layering duplicative reviews.

Policy options discussed included explicit federal authorization to waive separate exploration-level environmental analyses for geothermal well testing while retaining full review for actual generation projects; targeted statutory or administrative pathways to speed permitting at remediated industrial sites; and broader use of NEPA assignments and Clean Water Act delegations so states can administer sections 404 and 402 stormwater permits.

One witness summarized the federal-state approach this way: "delegate or assign responsibility to the states," saying that transfers of authority have already reduced duplication in some places. The discussion did not produce a formal vote or decision; members asked colleagues from both parties to work together on drafting solutions.

The hearing continued with members noting Utah's Operation GigaWatt as a state effort to coordinate geothermal, nuclear and hydrogen projects and urging follow-up work to translate the session's proposals into legislative or administrative action.