HR 1687 United States House · 119th Congress

CLEAN Act

This bill, HR 1687 (the CLEAN Act), modifies geothermal leasing and permitting processes on federal lands. It shortens geothermal lease terms from two years to one year and requires the Interior Secretary to hold replacement lease sales if a sale is canceled or delayed. The bill also sets strict 30-day deadlines for the Interior Secretary to notify applicants about complete permit applications and issue final decisions on those applications. These changes directly affect geothermal energy developers seeking to lease federal land for energy projects.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Jul 2026

House Passage

Jun 2026

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Last action Jul 15, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 2 edits · Jun 2, 2026

MINOR

The engrossed version makes two substantive changes to geothermal leasing and permitting provisions. First, it relaxes the lease sale requirement from offering all eligible parcels to requiring only 75 percent be offered, with a written-justification exception for the remaining 25 percent. Second, it replaces a simple 30-day decision deadline for drilling permits with a more detailed framework that allows deferral when NEPA or other legal requirements are not yet met, while adding accountability mechanisms including written notices of required steps and agency action timelines.

Scope change

The lease sale provision narrows the scope of parcels that must be offered from 100 percent to a minimum of 75 percent, giving the Secretary discretion over the remaining quarter with a justification requirement. The permit provision broadens the process by adding a deferral mechanism but tightens accountability through specific notice and timeline requirements.

REQUIREMENT

The lease sale requirement was changed from requiring the Secretary to offer ALL nominated parcels eligible for geothermal development to requiring only 75 percent be offered. The remaining 25 percent need not be offered if the Secretary provides a written justification identifying a statutory, environmental, or administrative basis preventing their offering.

The drilling permit decision process was restructured. Previously, the Secretary had to issue a final decision within 30 days of an application being deemed complete. Now, within 30 days the Secretary must either issue the permit (if NEPA and other applicable law requirements are met) or defer the decision with a written notice specifying steps the applicant can take and a list of agency actions needed with timelines not exceeding NEPA deadlines under section 107(g). If deferred, the Secretary must issue a decision within 10 days after both the applicant completes their steps and the agency completes its listed actions.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jul 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.

upper

Jun 3, 2026

Committee

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

upper

Jun 2, 2026

Introduced

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3758-3759)

lower

Jun 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H3758-3759)

lower

Jun 2, 2026

Introduced

Mr. Westerman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

lower

May 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-657.

lower

Apr 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Apr 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged

lower

Dec 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee Hearings Held

lower

Dec 9, 2025

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors