The Puerto Rico Energy Opportunity and Geothermal Assessment Act of 2026 directs the U.S. Geological Survey, in coordination with the Department of Energy and local officials, to conduct geothermal resource assessments for Puerto Rico. These studies must include high-resolution mapping, evaluations of groundwater vulnerability in sensitive terrain, and analyses of seismic risks associated with enhanced geothermal systems. The Secretary of the Interior is required to submit progress reports to Congress annually for the first year and biennially thereafter until the assessment is complete.
The American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act of 2026 streamlines the permitting process for natural gas pipelines and other energy projects by designating the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as the sole lead agency for environmental reviews and establishing strict deadlines for federal and state agencies to complete their portions of the review. The bill also modifies water quality laws to reduce the number of required certifications for discharges into navigable waters, extends the validity of certain nationwide permits for dredged or fill material from five to ten years, and creates a new fund to address abandoned hardrock mines. Additionally, the legislation updates the National Environmental Policy Act to limit the scope of environmental reviews to effects directly caused by a project, impose specific timelines for agency decisions, and restrict the ability of courts to issue injunctions that would halt construction while legal challenges are pending.
This bill expands federal support for the agricultural sector by increasing funding for food security programs, providing forgivable loans for small food processors in Alaska, and allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to be used for online grocery delivery in remote areas. It aims to strengthen the seafood industry by creating a new label for wild-caught fish, establishing grants to build local processing infrastructure in coastal communities, and setting specific market names for genetically engineered and laboratory-grown fish. The legislation also directs research toward innovative areas like seaweed farming for methane reduction and urban agriculture, while simultaneously enhancing tribal self-determination by allowing Native groups to manage certain USDA programs and updating the Buy Indian Act.
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The Earth MRI Reauthorization Act of 2026 extends funding for the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative through 2031. This program will continue to map critical minerals, geothermal energy, and natural hydrogen resources using advanced technologies like digital geochemistry and real-time data systems. The bill also updates the initiative to include data from the 3D Hydrography Program, ensuring a broader range of subsurface information is collected and analyzed.
This bill establishes a comprehensive research and development framework to advance next-generation geothermal technologies, specifically targeting enhanced geothermal systems, closed-loop systems, and supercritical geothermal energy. It directs the Department of Energy to create a new research program that awards milestone-based grants for deep drilling projects and establishes a center of excellence to coordinate efforts across universities, national laboratories, and private partners. Key provisions include updating federal data repositories to standardize subsurface information, commissioning deep exploration boreholes to map heat and rock properties, and funding innovations in drilling equipment, power generation efficiency, and water usage. The legislation also mandates periodic reports on the commercialization barriers of these technologies and authorizes $5 million annually through 2031 to support these initiatives.
The Federal Mechanical Insulation Act of 2026 amends existing federal energy conservation laws to formally recognize mechanical insulation as an energy efficiency measure in government buildings. This legislation defines mechanical insulation as materials used in mechanical systems that meet specific engineering standards and reduce energy loss. Under the new requirements, federal facilities must identify these insulation measures during their comprehensive energy and water assessments. The bill applies specifically to the management and reporting of energy usage within federal properties.
The Geo POWER Act creates a new milestone-based financing program to support geothermal energy projects in areas with limited or no existing geothermal power generation, including regions near Indian lands. This program awards funding based on the achievement of specific technical and financial milestones rather than upfront capital, aiming to reduce risks for future projects. The initiative prioritizes projects that generate public data to characterize new geothermal resources and require a minimum electricity generation capacity of 30 megawatts. The Department of Energy must award financing to at least three different proposals across three different states, ensuring geographic diversity in project selection.
The DATA Act of 2026 creates a new category of electric utilities called consumer-regulated electric utilities (CREUs) that can operate independently from the traditional public utility system. These CREUs must be physically isolated from the main power grid and serve only customers who receive electricity exclusively from them, allowing them to own and operate their own generation, storage, and distribution facilities. The bill exempts these independent utilities from most federal regulations, including oversight by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy, as well as restrictions on rates and corporate structure. CREUs can only lose this exemption if they choose to connect to the main power grid, at which point they would become subject to standard federal utility regulations. The legislation also clarifies that CREUs may use public rights-of-way for their facilities but only face limited review focused on safety and restoration.
The SECURE Grid Act requires states to include local distribution systems, which are electric utility infrastructure operating at 100 kilovolts or less, in their state energy security plans. This bill expands the scope of state plans to address physical threats like weather and attacks on local distribution systems, as well as cybersecurity risks and supply chain vulnerabilities for electricity equipment. States must also provide risk mitigation approaches to enhance reliability and resilience, and the act mandates a Government Accountability Office report by September 2030 to evaluate how these plans have improved risk management and recovery capabilities. The provisions expire on September 30, 2031, and require states to submit their plans without needing approval from the Secretary of Energy.
The Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025 prohibits the National Marine Sanctuaries Act from requiring additional authorizations for undersea fiber optic cables that already have federal or state permits. It directly affects cable operators who have obtained licenses, leases, or permits from any federal or state agency for cable installation or maintenance in national marine sanctuaries. The bill prevents the Secretary from blocking or demanding new permits for these cables once they have valid existing authorization. This simplifies regulatory processes by eliminating redundant federal oversight for cables already approved by other agencies.
