The US Department of the Interior (DOI) has announced the implementation of emergency permitting procedures to quickly review and advance geothermal energy projects vital for national security and energy independence.
The initiative is a response to the national energy emergency declared by US President Donald Trump on 20 January 2025 and aims to bolster the country’s energy resilience while upholding environmental stewardship.
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Proposed geothermal projects led by Ormat Nevada, including the Diamond Flat, McGinness Hills and Pinto projects, will be among the first to benefit from the new emergency permitting procedures.
For the Diamond Flat geothermal project near Fallon, Nevada, Ormat will drill test wells and undertake geothermal resource confirmation activities on federally leased land to ascertain if the geothermal reservoir is feasible commercially.
The McGinness Hills geothermal pptimisation project in Lander County, Nevada, will see the upgrade and expansion of three existing geothermal power plants with the addition of new wells, advanced heat exchangers, cooling fans and a 15MW solar photovoltaic field. These efforts are expected to boost output beyond the current 193MW.
The Pinto geothermal project near Denio, Nevada, will see Ormat conducting test drilling to evaluate the geothermal potential on leased public lands.
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By GlobalDataSecretary of the Interior Doug Burgum stated: “Geothermal energy is a reliable energy source that can power critical infrastructure for national security and help advance energy independence.
“By cutting red tape and advancing President Trump’s American energy dominance agenda, we’re fast-tracking reliable energy projects while strengthening national security and supporting American workers.”
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will expedite environmental assessments within a 14-day timeframe to determine whether Ormat’s proposed projects can proceed.
BLM’s role is crucial in overseeing geothermal development on federal lands, ensuring compliance with environmental and safety standards, and managing royalties from operations.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recently identified that geothermal resources in the Great Basin of Nevada could potentially supply up to one-tenth of the US’s electricity needs.
This finding indicates the potential of geothermal energy to significantly increase its contribution to the national supply. Its contribution is currently under 1%.
