Geothermal permitting reform bill passes House with unanimous support, a win for clean energy development

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a geothermal permitting reform bill by unanimous voice vote. The bill aims to reduce government barriers for geothermal energy projects, which can provide baseload renewable power. Support came from an unusual coalition including both oil and gas allies and progressive Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Geothermal energy offers a consistent power source unlike intermittent solar and wind. This permitting reform could speed up project approvals and lower costs. The editorial notes that similar bipartisan enthusiasm has not been applied to other energy projects, suggesting a missed opportunity for broader clean energy deployment.