Idaho Senator Jim Risch introduced legislation this week requiring the federal Bureau of Land Management to hold geothermal energy lease sales every year, moving to align the Senate with a companion measure that cleared the House unanimously last month.

The CLEAN Act

The bill, formally titled the Committing Leases for Energy Access Now Act, sets a firm annual schedule for BLM geothermal lease sales. Under its terms, each sale must include at least 75 percent of eligible parcels that have been nominated for geothermal development. If the agency misses a scheduled sale, a replacement sale would be required to compensate.

The legislation also establishes a 30-day deadline for federal agencies to act on geothermal permit applications — a provision aimed at reducing the administrative backlog that energy developers have long cited as a barrier to expanding domestic production.

Risch, who serves on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, described Idaho as well-positioned to benefit from expanded geothermal development. “Idaho has long benefited from our abundant natural geothermal resources, and there is great potential to ramp up the production of this reliable energy to power our communities,” he said.

House Already on Board

The Senate bill has a direct counterpart in H.R. 1687, introduced by Idaho Representative Russ Fulcher. The House passed that measure unanimously in June, giving the effort bipartisan momentum heading into Senate consideration.

With Risch now sponsoring the Senate version, both members of Idaho’s congressional delegation are aligned behind the push to open more federal land to geothermal leasing through a structured, predictable process.

Cutting Federal Red Tape

Risch framed the bill as a streamlining measure rather than a broad expansion of federal energy mandates. “The CLEAN Act requires annual geothermal lease sales, cutting red tape and offering more efficient and responsible opportunities to access this natural resource,” he said.

Geothermal energy draws heat from the earth to generate electricity and has historically played a role in Idaho’s energy mix. Supporters of the legislation argue that the current, irregular federal leasing process discourages investment and delays projects that could otherwise come online more quickly.

The 75 percent parcel threshold is intended to prevent agencies from holding technically compliant lease sales while withholding the most desirable tracts from development.

What Comes Next

The bill now heads to the Senate, where Risch’s seat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee gives him a platform to advance it through the committee process. He also chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, though geothermal leasing falls squarely within the energy panel’s jurisdiction.

The House’s unanimous vote in June removes one major obstacle, signaling that any Senate-passed version would likely move quickly to final passage. The timeline for Senate committee action has not been publicly announced.

The CLEAN Act fits within the broader pattern of Idaho’s congressional delegation pushing to expand domestic energy production and reduce federal permitting delays — themes that have defined much of the delegation’s legislative agenda during the current Congress.