GAO Report Finds BLM Should Improve Geothermal Permitting Process
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The Government Accountability Office released a report recommending the Bureau of Land Management improve its geothermal permitting process. The agency examined geothermal leasing and permitting on federal lands from 2019 to 2025. Land nominations increased from about 25,800 acres in 2020 to more than a million acres in 2025. Drilling permits approved by BLM grew from seven in 2019 to 68 in 2024.
The report identified challenges facing the geothermal program. Developers reported inconsistent BLM determinations related to permits for exploration. BLM documentation noted that inconsistencies in terminology between developers and BLM officials may contribute to confusion or misunderstandings. Handbooks that would resolve this confusion have been in draft since at least 2022 and are not publicly available.
Geothermal developers have limited visibility into the status of permits once these are submitted to BLM. This creates challenges for planning timelines and resource needs. BLM does not have comprehensive information on the status of geothermal permits. The agency lacks the ability to determine if there is a growing backlog of permits across BLM field offices.
Geothermal power plants on federal land have a combined 2,600 megawatts of capacity. In 2022 these plants generated enough electricity to power more than 1 million homes. Geothermal power plants on federal land represent about 65 percent of geothermal capacity in the United States.
GAO analyzed BLM data on land nominations, lease sales, and permitting. Officials interviewed included BLM officials in states with geothermal land nominations and leases. GAO also interviewed geothermal industry officials and administered a questionnaire to 22 geothermal developers.
