Labrador Statement on Introduction of Exploring Geothermal Energy on Federal Lands Act

Statement

Idaho First District Congressman Raúl R. Labrador today issued the following statement regarding his introduction of the Exploring Geothermal Energy on Federal Lands Act:

"The government needs to get out of the business of increasing regulatory burdens in the energy sector. In Idaho, we have an abundance of geothermal energy potential that is unavailable due to bureaucratic impediments.

"Idaho has a unique history of developing geothermal energy. I served in the Idaho Legislature where our 100 year old Statehouse is heated with geothermal energy, as are many downtown Boise office buildings, old and new. The annual operating costs for generating this abundant heat are essentially zero. In fact, the first private house in America heated with geothermal energy is in downtown Boise. Our legacy of developing geothermal power continues at the Idaho National Laboratory to this day. We need to harness this clean, renewable, base load form of energy, which is readily available in several western states."

"We need to encourage private industry by removing the regulatory burdens that hinder our economic growth. This legislation, the Exploring Geothermal Energy on Federal Lands Act, does just that. This legislation improves the regulatory process that hampers geothermal exploration while minimizing the surface impact. This will result in increased deployment of clean, emission-free geothermal power."

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