"The U.S. House just approved a bipartisan package of bills to accelerate geothermal energy as the nation clamors for more around-the-clock clean electricity.

The Geothermal Energy Advancement Act, or H.R. 5631, passed with broad support on Tuesday. The legislation — led by U.S. Reps. Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.) and Susie Lee (D-Nev.) — includes the text of six bills that tackle some of the key permitting and regulatory challenges that companies face when building and scaling geothermal systems.

The measures “seem like low-hanging fruit, but they can actually make a tangible difference as we try and develop projects,” Ben Brenner, who leads federal policy and outreach for the geothermal startup Zanskar, told Canary Media. “It’s a huge milestone for these bills to pass the House.”

Also on Tuesday, the House separately passed another geothermal bill — sponsored by Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) — that aims to increase the frequency and consistency of geothermal lease sales on federal land."

Maria Gallucci reports for Canary Media June 3, 2026. [2]