Geothermal Gold Book Development Act

Geothermal Gold Book Development Act: Plain-English Summary

This bill directs the federal government to create a comprehensive reference guide — informally called a "Gold Book" — focused on geothermal energy development on public lands. A Gold Book is essentially a standardized handbook that outlines the rules, best practices, and procedures that companies and developers need to follow when pursuing a particular type of activity on federal land. This bill would require such a guide to be developed specifically for geothermal energy projects, bringing greater clarity to a process that many find complicated and hard to navigate.

The bill primarily affects energy developers, companies, and investors interested in tapping into geothermal resources — heat generated naturally within the Earth — on lands managed by the federal government. Currently, those interested in developing geothermal projects may face unclear or inconsistent guidance from federal agencies. By creating a standardized reference document, the bill aims to make the permitting and development process more predictable and efficient, potentially encouraging more geothermal energy projects to move forward.

More broadly, the bill could benefit communities located near geothermal resources, particularly in western states where such resources are more common, by potentially spurring economic activity and energy development. Supporters of geothermal energy view it as a reliable, renewable energy source. The bill has moved through the congressional committee process with bipartisan support, suggesting broad agreement on the goal of improving clarity around geothermal development rules, even if broader energy policy remains debated.