Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 569.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the ``Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2025'', seeks to amend the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970. It grants the Secretary of the Interior the authority to require applicants or holders of geothermal leases to reimburse the United States for administrative and other costs. These costs include processing applications and performing inspections or monitoring of various geothermal activities. This authority is intended to last from the date of enactment until September 30, 2032. The bill also requires a report to be submitted to Congress regarding the impact of these changes.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +5
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill allows the Department of the Interior to recover administrative and monitoring costs through applicant reimbursements.
- Scored +5
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?
The bill establishes a mechanism for the government to recover costs associated with processing and inspecting geothermal leases.
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill requires the Secretary to submit a public report regarding the impact of the cost-recovery amendments.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill introduces new potential costs for those holding geothermal leases or applying for permits.
- Scored -3
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill imposes potential new administrative and monitoring costs on geothermal lease applicants and holders.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Economic Relief for Applicants: The Secretary has the authority to reduce reimbursement amounts if full reimbursement would cause economic hardship on an applicant (Section 2, paragraph 3A).
-
Promotion of Geothermal Resources: The Secretary may reduce required reimbursements if it is necessary to promote the greatest use of geothermal resources (Section s, paragraph 3B).
-
Increased Accountability and Transparency: The Secretary is required to submit a report to House and Senate committees regarding how these amendments affected the geothermal program, which must be made publicly available on the Department of the Interior website (Section 3, subsection a).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial Burdens on Lease Holders: Applicants or holders of geothermal leases may be required to reimburse the United States for all reasonable administrative and other costs related to processing applications and monitoring activities such as drilling, construction, and reclamation (Section 2, paragraph 1).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill establishes a mechanism for the government to recover costs associated with processing and inspecting geothermal leases. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill allows the Department of the Interior to recover administrative and monitoring costs through applicant reimbursements. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill imposes potential new administrative and monitoring costs on geothermal lease applicants and holders.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the Secretary to submit a public report regarding the impact of the cost-recovery amendments.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill promotes the use of geothermal resources which are often located in rural areas. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill introduces new potential costs for those holding geothermal leases or applying for permits.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — The bill allows the Secretary to reduce reimbursement requirements to promote the greatest use of geothermal resources.
- 5/20/2026
- Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-655.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 569.
- 3/5/2026
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
- 12/16/2025
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 12/9/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
- 1/14/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.