House passes bill to narrow federal review for some geothermal drilling amid fierce debate

The House passed H.R. 5587, known on the floor as the HEATS (or HITS) Act, on third reading after floor debate and a recorded vote of 231 yeas to 186 nays. Proponents said the measure will speed development of geothermal energy by removing duplicative federal permitting when projects begin on state or private surface lands and the federal subsurface interest is less than 50 percent. Opponents warned the bill would strip meaningful federal review and reduce opportunities for tribal consultation and landowner input.

Representative Bruce Westerman, the bill sponsor, told colleagues the legislation “would expedite the development of geothermal energy on nonfederal surface lands where the federal subsurface estate is less than 50%,” and argued it would not reduce federal royalties. He said the bill aims to reduce administrative delays that slow projects and to bring more domestic, baseload clean energy online.

The bill’s critics — including the House’s ranking member on natural resources — said the statute would, in practice, waive review under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act and the National Historic Preservation Act for covered projects. “I am a strong supporter of geothermal energy,” the ranking member said, “but unfortunately, I must oppose this legislation,” arguing it could allow underground development that affects neighbors without adequate notice, tribal consultation or financial assurances to cover potential surface damage.

Representative Jared Huffman (ranking Democrat on the floor for some of the debate) cautioned that while geothermal is necessary for a clean‑energy future, “good geothermal energy projects don't need the kind of sweeping waiver that is proposed in this legislation,” adding that the bill creates “a gray area” for underground injection control permits and leaves open questions about liability for subsidence or contamination.

Supporters said the measure would preserve federal royalties and rely on state permitting in many cases, and that it targets a particular regulatory burden: when federal mineral interests are minor but trigger full federal reviews that duplicate state processes. Opponents countered that bypassing federal reviews removes standardized federal protections — including tribal consultation and public input — and could shift cleanup costs to landowners and taxpayers if projects cause ground‑surface damage.

Under the special rule governing floor consideration, debate on the amended bill was limited to one hour, equally divided and controlled by the committee chair and ranking member. After debate, the House ordered the yeas and nays; the recorded tally announced on the floor was 231 yeas and 186 nays. The motion to reconsider the vote was laid on the table.

The bill’s text describes amendments to the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to waive a federal drilling permit requirement for certain activities and to exempt certain activities from NEPA “and for other purposes.” The floor debate referenced a U.S. Geological Survey estimate that the Great Basin region alone hosts roughly 135 gigawatts of geothermal potential, a figure used by supporters to argue for accelerated development.

The House completed its business and adjourned pursuant to a motion adopted on the floor. The bill’s next congressional steps were not recorded on the floor transcript provided.