Gibbons pushes geothermal use

Suzanne Struglinski

Wednesday, July 23, 2003 | 9:50 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Proponents of geothermal energy projects in Nevada and other states could find it easier to lease public lands for geothermal use under a House bill introduced last week.

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., introduced legislation Friday that amends existing regulations for geothermal leasing. Gibbons' proposal calls for one policy for the process on Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service lands and also encourages ranchers, local governments, small businesses and other energy users to use the resource by creating a simpler leasing process for "direct use" leases, according to Gibbons' staff.

"Nevada is a hotbed of geothermal energy, and my bill will allow our state to finally unlock this critical resource to meet our energy needs," Gibbons said. He is vice chairman of the House energy and mineral resources subcommittee, which conducted a hearing on the bill Tuesday.

Nevada is one of the country's top geothermal states, with about 520,000 acres of public land leased for geothermal use, according to the BLM.

Earlier this year, the Interior and Energy departments named 10 public land sites in Nevada among the 35 best sites in the West for geothermal development.

Geothermal power generation involves deep underground wells that tap into the heat available in some areas of the earth to produce steam that drives power-generation turbines. Right now companies wanting to lease land over geothermal resources have to navigate a complex permitting process. Gibbons' bill aims to simplify the process.

The bill also calls for an expanded resource assessment of geothermal resources. The last U.S. Geological Survey overall geothermal potential study took place 30 years ago.

Jo Simpson, BLM spokeswoman in Nevada, said since October the agency has issued 60 noncompetitive leases covering 108,551 acres. About 70 requests remain for noncompetitive leases. The last competitive lease sale, conducted June 28 in Reno, resulted in seven new leases.

At Tuesday's hearing, Patricia Morrison, the Interior Department's principal deputy assistant secretary for land and mineral management, said the department has not had "sufficient time to fully analyze the legislation and to develop a formal administration position on the bill at this time."

Morrison said after a proper review of the bill she would work with Gibbons and the committee on it.

Meanwhile, Karl Gawell, executive director of the Geothermal Energy Association in Washington expressed his support for the bill at the hearing, but added that some individual companies may take issue with some provisions.

"Enacting these amendments into law would help encourage new geothermal energy production, streamline administration of the law, and take other important steps to achieve the potential our geothermal energy resources hold to help address the critical energy problems of our nation," Gawell said in testimony.

Gibbons spokeswoman Amy Spanbauer said the bill is likely to be picked up by the House Resources Committee after the upcoming August recess.