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H.R. 8790 119th Congress House

Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act

Official title: To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to direct research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities in support of n… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to direct research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities in support of next-generation geothermal and closed-loop geothermal systems in various conditions, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 13, 2026 Introduced by: Pat Harrigan Republican · North Carolina See on congress.gov
Energy Alternative and renewable resourcesElectric power generation and transmissionEnergy researchGeography and mapping
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 Everywhere this bill has been 14 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 21, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Jul 20, 2026 · 5:38 PM EDT
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jul 20, 2026 · 5:38 PM EDT
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4667-4668)
Jul 20, 2026 · 5:38 PM EDT
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4667-4668)
Jul 20, 2026 · 5:28 PM EDT
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 8790.
Jul 20, 2026 · 5:28 PM EDT
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4667-4670)
Jul 20, 2026 · 5:28 PM EDT
Mr. Babin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jul 16, 2026
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 655.
Jul 16, 2026
Committee on Natural Resources discharged.
Jul 16, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 119-752, Part I.
May 20, 2026
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
May 20, 2026
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
May 13, 2026
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 13, 2026
Introduced in House
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What's happening now July 21, 2026

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act

This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to support the development of next-generation geothermal systems, such as closed-loop geothermal systems in supercritical conditions. Specifically, the bill expands the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to modify and establish geothermal energy programs, such as programs concerning research and development, grants, and data management.

DOE must support a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for next-generation geothermal systems. DOE may administer grants for carrying out certain focus areas of the program. DOE must also ensure that at least one Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) field research site has the capabilities to include next-generation geothermal testing.

Additionally, DOE must provide grants for (1) the continuation and expansion of research, development, demonstration, testing, and commercial application activities applicable to FORGE sites; and (2) the establishment of a next-generation geothermal systems center of excellence.

DOE must also provide grants to accelerate the development, testing, and implementation of innovative technologies to improve the commercial-readiness of geothermal energy projects using next-generation geothermal systems.

DOE must expand its repository of geothermal drilling information to include publicly available subsurface data, including data reported as part of fossil fuel and mining operations. DOE must also periodically update the repository to improve its functionality and usability.

The bill authorizes the Department of the Interior to commission the drilling of supercritical geothermal exploration boreholes in certain areas to provide control points for deep heat mapping and geothermal development. 

 Hearings & markups 1
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Lobbying activity 14

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

Bodies those filers lobbied

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 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Salinas, Andrea
Oregon · May 13, 2026
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 8790: Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-8790/
MLA
"H.R. 8790: Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-8790/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 8790, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-8790/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 8790: Next-Generation Geothermal Research and Development Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-8790/)
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