By Aubrie Spady Fox News
The Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act (CLEAN) passed in the House Tuesday and will amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 to require the Department of Interior (DOI) to hold lease sales every year, rather than every two years.
Additionally, the bill seeks to speed up the permit process for lease sales by setting a 30-day deadline for the DOI to notify an applicant if a permit has been approved.
The bill also requires the DOI hold a replacement sale if a lease sale is canceled or missed.
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"Geothermal energy has tremendous potential to provide reliable, clean energy for millions of Americans," Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho, who introduced the bill, said in a statement.
"As nearly 90% of our nation's geothermal resources are located on federally managed lands, I introduced the CLEAN Act to unleash these critical resources by cutting red tape and increasing lease opportunities on federal lands. This legislation will hold the Department of Interior accountable and is key to bolstering domestic energy production, reducing our reliance on foreign adversaries and meeting America’s growing energy demands."
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