Geothermal Ombudsman for National Deployment and Optimal Reviews Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 5631 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5631 To appoint a Geothermal Ombudsman and establish a Geothermal Permitting Task Force from within the Bureau of Land Management, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 30, 2025 Mr. Hurd of Colorado introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To appoint a Geothermal Ombudsman and establish a Geothermal Permitting Task Force from within the Bureau of Land Management, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Geothermal Ombudsman for National Deployment and Optimal Reviews Act''. SEC. 2. GEOTHERMAL OMBUDSMAN AND PERMITTING TASK FORCE. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Geothermal authorization.--The term ``geothermal authorization'' means any license, permit, approval, finding, determination, or other administrative decision issued by the Bureau of Land Management and any interagency consultation that is required or authorized under Federal law in order to site, construct, reconstruct, or commence operations of a geothermal energy project administered by the Bureau of Land Management. (2) Geothermal energy project.--The term ``geothermal energy project'' means a project wholly or partially located on public land that uses geothermal energy to generate heat or electricity. (3) Public land.--The term ``public land'' means lands subject to geothermal leasing under section 3 of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 U.S.C. 1002). (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. (5) Task force.--The term ``Task Force'' means