Geothermal growth and DMRE permitting noted; NAC 5.34a rulemaking nearing second hearing
Division staff reported strong geothermal activity in 2024 (about 6.8 million MWh produced), growing federal lease revenues and heightened permitting; rulemaking on NAC 5.34a (stimulation activity) is pending final LCB comment before an additional public hearing.
The full story
Dustin Holcomb, Fluid Minerals Manager, updated commissioners Feb. 19 on geothermal, dissolved-mineral exploration and oil-and-gas activity. He said Nevada operators produced roughly 6.8 million megawatt-hours in 2024 (about 785 MW average), that recent federal geothermal lease sales generated roughly $9.4 million, and that geothermal permit and well counts rose sharply in the last year (61 permits, 41 wells for geothermal in 2024). Holcomb noted operators have used dissolved mineral resource exploration permits for geothermal-adjacent work but said recent federal executive actions speeding NEPA review may reduce that practice.
Sign up to keep reading.
Your free newsletter brings you what your city council, county, and school board discussed and decided.
Keep reading for free
Create a free account to finish this story and see the video, transcript and key details.
Continue with GoogleContinue with emailAlready have an account? Log in