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Title 30 — Mineral Lands and Mining

Chapter 23 — Geothermal Resources

§ 1028. Hot dry rock geothermal energy

Statutory text

(a)

Definition of enhanced geothermal systems

In this section, the term “enhanced geothermal systems” has the meaning given the term in section 17191 of title 42.

(b)

USGS program

The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the United States Geological Survey, and in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall establish a cooperative Government-private sector program with respect to hot dry rock geothermal energy resources on public lands (as such term is defined in section 1702(e) of title 43) and lands managed by the Department of Agriculture, other than any such public or other lands that are withdrawn from geothermal leasing. Such program shall include, but shall not be limited to, activities to identify, select, and classify those areas throughout the United States that have a high potential for hot dry rock geothermal energy production and activities to develop and disseminate information regarding the utilization of such areas for hot dry rock energy production. Such information may include information regarding field test processes and techniques for assuring that hot dry rock geothermal energy development projects are developed in an economically feasible manner without adverse environmental consequences. Utilizing the information developed by the Secretary, together with information developed in connection with other related programs carried out by other Federal agencies, the Secretary, acting through the United States Geological Survey, may also enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with any public or private entity to provide assistance to any such entity to enable such entity to carry out additional projects with respect to the utilization of hot dry rock geothermal energy resources which will further the purposes of this section.

(c)

Update to geothermal resource assessment

The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the United States Geological Survey, and in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall update the 2008 United States geothermal resource assessment carried out by the United States Geological Survey, including—

(1)

with respect to areas previously identified by the Department of Energy or the United States Geological Survey as having significant potential for hydrothermal energy or enhanced geothermal systems energy, by focusing on—

(A)

improving the resolution of resource potential at systematic temperatures and depths, including temperatures and depths appropriate for power generation and direct use applications;

(B)

quantifying the total potential to coproduce geothermal energy and minerals;

(C)

incorporating data relevant to underground thermal energy storage and exchange, such as aquifer and soil properties; and

(D)

producing high resolution maps, including—

(i)

maps that indicate key subsurface parameters for electric and direct use resources; and

(ii)

risk maps for induced seismicity based on geologic, geographic, and operational parameters; and

(2)

to the maximum extent practicable, by coordinating with relevant State officials and institutions of higher education to expand geothermal assessments, including enhanced geothermal systems assessments, to include assessments for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the States of Alaska and Hawaii.

(d)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

  1. Energy Policy Act of 1992

    Pub. L. 102–486 title XXV § 2501 · 106 Stat. 2776

    Enacted · 30 U.S.C. § 1028

    Pub. L. 102–486, title XXV, § 2501, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3101

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    Pub. L. 102–486, title XXV, § 2501, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3101

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    SEC. 2501. HOT DRY ROCK GEOTHERMAL ENERGY. (a) USGS Program.— The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the United States Geological Survey, and in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall establish a cooperative Government-private sector program with respect to hot dry rock geothermal energy resources on public lands (as such term is defined in section 103(e) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976) and lands managed by the Department of Agriculture, other than any such public or other lands that are withdrawn from geothermal leasing. Such program shall include, but shall not be limited to, activities to identify, select, and classify those areas throughout the United States that have a high potential for hot dry rock geothermal energy production and activities to develop and disseminate information regarding the utilization of such areas for hot dry rock energy production. Such information may include information regarding field test processes and techniques for assuring that hot dry rock geothermal energy development projects are developed in an economically feasible manner without adverse environmental consequences. Utilizing the information developed by the Secretary, together with information developed in connection with other related programs carried out by other Federal agencies, the Secretary, acting through the United States Geological Survey, may also enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with any public or private entity to provide assistance to any such entity to enable such entity to carry out additional projects with respect to the utilization of hot dry rock geothermal energy resources which will further the purposes of this section. (b) Authorization of Appropriations.— There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

  2. Energy Act of 2020

    Pub. L. 116–260 § 3002(m)(2) · 134 Stat. 1182

    Redesignated · 30 U.S.C. § 1028(a)

    Pub. L. 116–260, § 3002(m)(2), added subsec. (a). Former subsec. (a) redesignated (b)

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–260, § 3002(m)(2), added subsec. (a). Former subsec. (a) redesignated (b).

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (2) by inserting before subsection (b) (as so redesignated) the following: “(a) Definition of Enhanced Geothermal Systems.— In this section, the term ‘enhanced geothermal systems’ has the meaning given the term in section 612 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17191).” ;

  3. Energy Act of 2020

    Pub. L. 116–260 § 3002(m)(1) · 134 Stat. 1182

    Redesignated · 30 U.S.C. § 1028(b)

    Pub. L. 116–260, § 3002(m)(1), redesignated subsec. (a) as (b). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (d)

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–260, § 3002(m)(1), redesignated subsec. (a) as (b). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (d).

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (1) by redesignating subsections (a) and (b) as subsections (b) and (d), respectively;

  4. Energy Act of 2020

    Pub. L. 116–260 § 3002(m)(3) · 134 Stat. 1182

    Added · 30 U.S.C. § 1028(c)

    Pub. L. 116–260, § 3002(m)(3), added subsec. (c)

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–260, § 3002(m)(3), added subsec. (c).

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (3) by inserting after subsection (b) (as so redesignated) the following: “(c) Update to Geothermal Resource Assessment.— The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the United States Geological Survey, and in consultation with the Secretary of Energy, shall update the 2008 United States geothermal resource assessment carried out by the United States Geological Survey, including— “(1) with respect to areas previously identified by the Department of Energy or the United States Geological Survey as having significant potential for hydrothermal energy or enhanced geothermal systems energy, by focusing on— “(A) improving the resolution of resource potential at systematic temperatures and depths, including temperatures and depths appropriate for power generation and direct use applications; “(B) quantifying the total potential to coproduce geothermal energy and minerals; “(C) incorporating data relevant to underground thermal energy storage and exchange, such as aquifer and soil properties; and “(D) producing high resolution maps, including— “(i) maps that indicate key subsurface parameters for electric and direct use resources; and “(ii) risk maps for induced seismicity based on geologic, geographic, and operational parameters; and “(2) to the maximum extent practicable, by coordinating with relevant State officials and institutions of higher education to expand geothermal assessments, including enhanced geothermal systems assessments, to include assessments for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the States of Alaska and Hawaii.” ; and

  5. Energy Act of 2020

    Pub. L. 116–260 § 3002(m)(1) · 134 Stat. 1182

    1. Redesignated · 30 U.S.C. § 1028(d)

      Pub. L. 116–260, § 3002(m)(1), (4), redesignated subsec. (b) as (d)

    2. Substituted · 30 U.S.C. § 1028(d)

      Pub. L. 116–260, § 3002(m)(1), (4), substituted “necessary” for “necesary”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–260, § 3002(m)(1), (4), redesignated subsec. (b) as (d) and substituted “necessary” for “necesary”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (1) by redesignating subsections (a) and (b) as subsections (b) and (d), respectively;

6 of 6 references resolved to an enrolled provision

Editorial Notes

Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, and not as part of the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

2020—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 116–260, § 3002(m)(2), added subsec. (a). Former subsec. (a) redesignated (b).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 116–260, § 3002(m)(1), redesignated subsec. (a) as (b). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (d).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–260, § 3002(m)(3), added subsec. (c).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–260, § 3002(m)(1), (4), redesignated subsec. (b) as (d) and substituted “necessary” for “necesary”.

Credits

1992–2020 · 2 acts
  1. 1992Pub. L. 102–486, title XXV, § 2501, , 106 Stat. 3101
  2. 2020Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title III, § 3002(m), , 134 Stat. 2496.
Show as published

(Pub. L. 102–486, title XXV, § 2501, , 106 Stat. 3101; Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title III, § 3002(m), , 134 Stat. 2496.)

Parsed from the official OLRC USLM XML in data/usc_all/usc30.xml · release point 119-108 · OLRC build 2026-04-17

USLM identifier /us/usc/t30/s1028