Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. SALINAS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, Americans are facing an affordability crisis. When I talk with Oregonians, they tell me one of the biggest challenges they face right now is the rising cost of electricity.

In addition to rising demand, aging infrastructure, rising fuel costs, and climate-change-driven disasters like winter ice storms, wildfires, and drought are also driving up the cost of electricity. We need more tools to ensure we can deliver the reliability and affordability that consumers need.

Geothermal energy already delivers clean, round-the-clock power in the Western U.S. Building on these innovations, next-gen geothermal technologies can play an important part in the transition to an affordable and reliable clean energy future across the country.

Oregon is already a leader in this space, producing the fifth most geothermal electricity in the U.S. Oregon Institute of Technology opened Oregon's first geothermal power plant at their Klamath Falls campus, and for 60 years the school has heated buildings and supplied hot water with geothermal energy.

Now, Oregon is leading the charge with next-gen geothermal technologies. Newberry Volcano in central Oregon is a hot spot--anybody laugh?--for geothermal innovation. The industry is piloting commercial- scale power plants there, and they are demonstrating new technologies that will allow geothermal systems to operate in extreme heat conditions, which greatly expands the role that these resources can play in our energy mix.

This is not just about Oregon or the Mountain West anymore. Next-gen geothermal technologies will make it feasible to deploy geothermal energy across the country and serve as a critical tool in the fight against climate change. This renewable energy will help meet America's energy needs across the Nation.

The Federal Government needs to lean in, partner with the private sector, and ensure these technologies move quickly to market so that Americans feel the benefit sooner rather than later.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 8790, the Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act, will support geothermal research, development, demonstration, and commercialization efforts at the Department of Energy to overcome the remaining engineering challenges and take this technology from promise to reality.

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Ms. SALINAS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague Mr. Harrigan for his leadership on this sensible, bipartisan bill, and I urge everyone to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 8790. I yield back the balance of my time.

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