Geothermal Rising FY2022 Appropriations Request Letter (March, 2021)

March 25, 2021
Title of Request: Geothermal Technologies Office Demonstration Program
Appropriations Bill:
Department/Agency: Department of Energy
Account: Geothermal Technologies Office
Program(s):

Amount being requested by stakeholders for FY22:

The Committee provides $210,000,000 for the Geothermal Technologies Office. Includes $75,000,000 for next-generation geothermal demonstration projects to create jobs and grow the geothermal industry. Includes $35,000,000 to continue activities at the FORGE site in Milford, Utah. Also includes $30,000,000 for Low-Temperature and Co-Produced Resources, including critical mineral recovery, deep-direct use, thermal storage, and closed-loop systems.

Amount Enacted
FY21: $105,000,000
FY20: $110,000,000
FY19: $84,000,000
FY18: $80,906,000

Amount in Previous House Bills
FY21: $108,500,000
FY20: $90,000,000
FY19: $69,500,000
FY18: $15,000,000

Amount in Previous Senate Bills
FY21: $105,000,000
FY20: $115,000,000
FY19: $85,000,000
FY18: $67,500,000

Amount in President’s Budget Requests
FY21: $26,000,000
FY20: $28,000,000
FY19: $30,000,000
FY18: $12,500,000

Brief Request Justification

This request covers a wide range of geothermal technologies included in DOE’s 2018 GeoVision report and authorized by the Energy Act of 2020. The GeoVision report highlights the immense potential for affordable, reliable geothermal energy to grow to 60 GW of installed capacity by 2050. To realize geothermal’s potential, Congress recently passed the Energy Act authorizing DOE research, development, demonstration (RD&D), and commercial application across a range of geothermal technologies to achieve higher efficiency and lower cost. Other important RD&D areas authorized by the Energy Act include reservoir thermal energy storage for geothermal systems and mineral recovery from geothermal brines. The geothermal industry stands ready to demonstrate and deploy advanced geothermal technologies to create jobs and spur economic growth in diverse geographic regions.

Report Language Request(s)

Geothermal Technologies Topline:

The Committee recommends $210,000,000 for Geothermal Technologies for research, development, and demonstration, including implementation of the recommendations outlined in the GeoVision study. Within available funds, $75,000,000 is provided for next-generation geothermal demonstration projects in diverse geographic areas. Within available funds, $35,000,000 is provided for the continuation of activities at the Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) site in Milford, Utah.

Low-Temperature and Co-Produced Resources:

Within available funds, $30,000,000 is provided to expand the Low-Temperature and Co-Produced Resources subprogram, including RD&D for critical mineral recovery, deep-direct use, thermal storage, and closed loop systems.

Thank you for your consideration. If you have any further questions, we can be reached at wpettitt@mygeoenergy.org.

Sincerely,

Paul Thomsen, Geothermal Rising Policy Committee Chair

Will Pettitt, Geothermal Rising Executive Director