HR 8790: Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act

HR 8790 in plain English: This bill directs the Department of Energy to support research, development, and demonstration of next-generation geothermal energy systems, including closed-loop and supercritical geothermal technologies. It expands existing geothermal programs, funds field research sites and a new center of excellence, and authorizes $150 million per year from 2027 through 2031 for these efforts. The Department of the Interior would also be authorized to drill exploratory boreholes for deep heat mapping.

Stated purpose

The bill directs the Department of Energy to research, develop, demonstrate, and support commercial use of next-generation geothermal energy systems, including closed-loop and supercritical geothermal technologies, and to expand the collection and sharing of underground data useful for geothermal development.

Key points

• Authorizes $150 million per year for fiscal years 2027–2031 for next-generation geothermal research and development
• Requires DOE to run research, demonstration, and commercialization programs for next-generation geothermal systems
• Requires at least one FORGE field research site to be capable of next-generation geothermal testing
• Funds establishment of a next-generation geothermal systems center of excellence
• Expands DOE's geothermal drilling data repository to include publicly available subsurface data from fossil fuel and mining operations

Arguments supporters make

• Geothermal energy can produce power around the clock regardless of weather, so investing in next-generation systems could strengthen the reliability of America's energy supply.
• By funding research and sharing underground data from existing fossil fuel and mining operations, the bill speeds up geothermal development without duplicating costly drilling work.
• Expanding a homegrown energy source like geothermal reduces dependence on foreign energy and can create domestic jobs in energy and technology sectors.

Arguments opponents make

• The bill authorizes new federal spending on research and grants without specifying funding amounts, making it hard to know whether it commits real resources or simply creates programs on paper.
• Critics may argue that geothermal energy, even next-generation versions, is limited to specific geographic regions, so federal investment may benefit only certain parts of the country while others see little return.
• Requiring fossil fuel and mining companies to have their reported subsurface data collected and shared in a federal repository raises concerns about how that data is used and whether it could affect those industries' operations or competitive position.

Tradeoffs

Public funding is used now to advance geothermal technology that may not reach commercial viability for years, trading near-term government expenditure for the possibility of long-term energy benefits; the bill also balances making industry-reported data more broadly useful against the interests of companies that originally collected that data.

Current status in Congress: Passed House.

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