Pat Harrigan (R-NC)
Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act
A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- In Senate committee
The House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together): no member's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
The Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act aims to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. This legislation directs research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities for next-generation geothermal and closed-loop geothermal systems. It establishes new definitions for terms like supercritical geothermal and closed-loop geothermal systems. The bill directs the Secretary to support a specific research program focusing on topics such as well completion, drilling, and sensor development. It also creates a "center of excellence" to coordinate research and support workforce development. Additionally, it authorizes $150,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2031 to carry out these objectives.
Yes· 3 of 9
- Scored +8
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The bill provides significant funding for research into supercritical and closed-loop geothermal systems.
- Scored +7
Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power?
The bill authorizes $150,000,000 annually for research and development of next-generation geothermal systems.
- Scored +5
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides innovation grants and support for the commercial-readiness of geothermal technologies.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Data Accessibility: The bill requires the updating of a repository to include more usable and accessible geothermal data, which can be viewed by map and organized by common attributes (Section 2(a)(3)(B)(h)(ii)).
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Workforce Development: The establishment of a "center of excellence" is intended to support workforce development across the entire lifecycle of next-generation geothermal energy development (Section 2(a)(3)(B)(4)(C)(iii)).
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Support for Industry and Education: The Secretary may administer grants to institutions of higher education and private sector entities to carry out research and development (Section 2(a)(3)(B)(2)(C)).
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Inclusion of U.S. Territories: The bill directs studies and resource assessments to include the potential for supercritical geothermal in the United States territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (Section 2(a)(3)(B)(5)(F) and Section 2(b)(1)(A)(iii)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
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.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides innovation grants and support for the commercial-readiness of geothermal technologies. Would union members be better off under this? — The bill includes mandates to support workforce development within the geothermal energy industry. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill directs the center of excellence to partner with Tribal governments on geothermal development.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill establishes a center of excellence to support the workforce needs of the geothermal energy industry. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill invests in research and development to advance next-s-generation geothermal energy technologies.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill provides significant funding for research into supercritical and closed-loop geothermal systems. Does this make college cost less? — The bill allows for grants to be awarded to institutions of higher education for geothermal research.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — The bill authorizes $150,000,000 annually for research and development of next-generation geothermal systems. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill funds geothermal exploration that can be deployed in various geological provinces across the U.S.
- 7/21/2026
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 7/20/2026
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4667-4668)
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4667-4668)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8790.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4667-4670)
- Mr. Babin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 7/16/2026
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 119-752, Part I.
- Committee on Natural Resources discharged.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 655.
- 5/20/2026
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
- 5/13/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Andrea SalinasDemocrat · Oregon