S. 4610

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4610 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4610

To promote the development and use of geothermal resources in the 
Pacific, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 20, 2026

Mr. Schatz (for himself, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Curtis, and Mr. Coons) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To promote the development and use of geothermal resources in the 
Pacific, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Pacific Promotion of Workable Energy 
Resources Act'' or the ``Pacific POWER Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the 
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee 
Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(2) Direct use.--The term ``direct use'' has the meaning 
given the term in section 616A of the Energy Independence and 
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17195a(b)).
(3) Geothermal partners.--The term ``geothermal partners'' 
means the United States allies and partners selected pursuant 
to section 6.
(4) Next-generation geothermal.--The term ``next-generation 
geothermal'' means a geothermal power production technology 
that has the potential to greatly expand the scale and 
geographical range of geothermal power production, including--
(A) enhanced geothermal systems, as defined in 
section 612 of the Energy Independence and Security Act 
of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17191);
(B) closed-loop geothermal systems, meaning systems 
that use one or more wells drilled into hot rock with 
fluid circulating through a closed-loop system to bring 
heat to the surface;
(C) geothermal systems which harness heat from 
supercritical temperatures, meaning at or above 375 
degrees; and
(D) other innovative geothermal power technologies.
(5) Relevant united states agencies.--The term ``relevant 
United States agencies'' includes the Department of Energy, the 
Department of the Interior, the Department of Commerce, the 
Department of the Treasury, the United States International 
Development Finance Corporation, the Export-Import Bank of the 
United States, the United States Trade and Development Agency, 
and the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
of State.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The November 2025 National Security Strategy 
prioritizes the United States having ``the world's most robust, 
productive, and innovative energy sector--one capable not just 
of fueling American economic growth but of being one of 
America's leading export industries in its own right''.
(2) The November 2025 National Security Strategy further 
states that ``[e]xpanding our net energy exports will also 
deepen relationships with allies while curtailing the influence 
of adversaries, protect our ability to defend our shores, and--
when and where necessary--enables us to project power''.
(3) Numerous allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific 
experience energy security vulnerabilities that have 
implications for their autonomy, ability to resist coercion, 
defense requirements, and democratic freedoms, which could 
implicate United States national security decisions, including 
military deployments and the potential use of force, to come to 
their assistance and otherwise promote regional stability.
(4) Taiwan relies on imports for more than 95 percent of 
its energy needs and is increasingly vulnerable to blockade 
from People's Liberation Army forces, with direct implications 
for United States military operations and national security.
(5) According to the U.S.-China Economic and Security 
Review Commission, the People's Republic of China is a leading 
producer of key grid components, and its growing footprint in 
global energy systems raises numerous national security 
concerns for the United States and other countries.
(6) The People's Republic of China is responsible for 
almost half of final geothermal energy consumption globally by 
harnessing low-temperature resources for space heating.
(7) The People's Republic of China is developing and 
deploying geothermal technology domestically, which may reach 
an installed geothermal power generation capacity of 200 
megawatts in 2030 and more than 1,000 megawatts in 2050.
(8) Key allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific have both 
energy security vulnerabilities and geothermal resources that 
could help reduce those vulnerabilities.
(9) According to the International Energy Agency, 
geothermal energy is a dispatchable source of power that has 
the potential to meet up to 15 percent of global electricity 
demand growth to 2050, making it a strong candidate to help 
meet the growing energy demand from artificial intelligence and 
other sectors.
(10) Despite this potential, policy support and investment 
in geothermal energy is significantly lacking compared to other 
energy sources globally.
(11) According to the Department of Energy, the United 
States leads the world in geothermal electricity generation.
(12) According to the International Energy Agency, 
Indonesia, Turkiye, the Philippines, and New Zealand are among 
the top sources of geothermal electricity generation in 
addition to the United States.
(13) According to the International Energy Agency, 
geothermal energy already provides more than 10 percent of 
total electricity supply in Kenya, Iceland, El Salvador, New 
Zealand, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
(14) The United States has the necessary resources, 
personnel, commercial capabilities, and technical expertise to 
assist allies and partners in developing geothermal upon 
request.

SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Indo-Pacific is critical to United States national 
security and economic interests, particularly given the rise of 
the People's Republic of China as a competitor, and has some of 
the world's highest geothermal potential;
(2) achieving United States foreign and national security 
policy objectives, including deterring conflict and reducing 
vulnerability to coercion, requires further strengthening 
relationships with key regional allies and partners;
(3) the United States should expand its engagement with key 
allies and partners on geothermal, including through commercial 
partnerships and technical assistance to support the 
development of their geothermal capabilities to reduce reliance 
on the energy exports of adversaries and to develop markets for 
United States companies; and
(4) the United States should prioritize the pursuit of 
bilateral memoranda of understanding or other appropriate 
agreements on geothermal energy with key allies and partners, 
where doing so furthers United States foreign policy and 
national security interests.

SEC. 5. GEOTHERMAL DIPLOMACY.

(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary 
of Energy, shall work both bilaterally and multilaterally to advance 
geothermal energy in support of United States interests, including to 
develop--
(1) goals to increase geothermal deployment, including for 
electricity and direct use applications;
(2) forums for collective learning and research;
(3) risk-sharing and financial tools for geothermal 
exploration and development;
(4) potential regulatory and power market reforms that 
support geothermal power production, direct use applications, 
and grid interconnection; and
(5) technical, environmental, safety, and community 
engagement standards and best practices, including--
(A) early and consistent community engagement, 
including the free, prior, and informed consent of 
Indigenous Peoples and other communities;
(B) revenue sharing to create local economic 
benefits;
(C) reservoir management;
(D) mitigation of seismic risk through real-time 
monitoring, operational guardrails, and engagement with 
impacted communities;
(E) mitigation of impacts to water resources; and
(F) standardized, transparent, and secure 
mechanisms for sharing geological and project-related 
data.
(b) Indo-Pacific Engagement.--The Secretary shall prioritize 
engaging with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific on opportunities 
to collaborate on geothermal energy and as potential geothermal 
partners to be selected pursuant to section 6, including--
(1) Taiwan;
(2) the Philippines;
(3) Japan;
(4) Australia;
(5) Indonesia;
(6) India;
(7) New Zealand; and
(8) Papua New Guinea.
(c) Multilateral Mechanisms.--The Secretary, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Energy, shall use existing multilateral mechanisms to 
advance cooperation on geothermal energy, including--
(1) the Quadrilateral Dialogue, or ``Quad,'' comprising the 
United States, Australia, India, and Japan;
(2) the United States-Japan-Philippines trilateral 
dialogue;
(3) the United States-Japan-Republic of Korea trilateral 
dialogue;
(4) the Pacific Community, the principal scientific and 
technical organization in the Pacific region;
(5) the International Energy Agency; and
(6) the Group of Seven, comprising the United States, 
France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada.

SEC. 6. ESTABLISHMENT OF INTERNATIONAL GEOTHERMAL PROGRAM AND COUNTRY 
SELECTION.

(a) Assessment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with relevant 
United States agencies, shall develop and submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees a report that--
(1) assesses global geothermal resources, including mapping 
the areas of highest potential for geothermal development based 
on factors, such as--
(A) existing geothermal generation;
(B) subsurface data;
(C) proximity of geothermal resources to existing 
or potential energy infrastructure;
(D) regulatory and economic conditions, including 
financial incentives for geothermal;
(E) current and projected energy mix and demand;
(F) workforce;
(G) supply chains, including the distribution of 
assets relative to projected demand; and
(H) energy reliability conditions;
(2) assesses countries, regions, and other locations in 
which geothermal development or expansion is most beneficial to 
United States national security and economic interests, 
including in support of United States Indo-Pacific strategy; 
and
(3) explains the strategy for addressing the challenges to 
geothermal energy development or expansion in the countries, 
regions, and other locations most beneficial to United States 
national security and economic interests.
(b) Consultation.--In preparing the report required in subsection 
(a), the Secretary and relevant agencies shall consult with--
(1) Department of Energy National Laboratories (as defined 
in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
15801));
(2) institutions of higher education (as defined in section 
101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (2 U.S.C. 1001(a)));
(3) nonpartisan and nonprofit organizations;
(4) the International Energy Agency;
(5) the advisory group established pursuant to subsection 
(g); and
(6) the appropriate committees of Congress.
(c) Establishment.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the 
Secretary of Energy, shall establish the International Geothermal 
Program (the ``Program'') for international collaboration on geothermal 
exploration and development to carry out section 5 and to pursue 
bilateral and multilateral partnerships as described in subsection (d) 
to further United States foreign policy and national security 
interests.
(d) Program.--The Program established pursuant to subsection (c) 
shall include public-private partnerships for the exploration and 
development of geothermal resources and next-generation geothermal 
systems, including--
(1) to support large-scale geothermal deployment, including 
for next-generation geothermal technologies and direct use 
applications;
(2) to conduct research of next-generation geothermal 
technologies, including through coordination with existing 
international research initiatives;
(3) to conduct geothermal resource exploration and 
characterization;
(4) to support the integration of geothermal energy into 
energy system planning and regulations;
(5) to identify opportunity zones where geothermal could 
meet industrial, heating and cooling, agricultural, and 
electricity needs;
(6) to support the workforce and supply chains necessary 
for geothermal deployment;
(7) to support community engagement and education;
(8) to assist in the development and implementation of 
risk-sharing mechanisms and other financial tools for the cost 
of geothermal exploration and development;
(9) to assist in the development of predictable siting and 
permitting processes for partners selected pursuant to 
subsection (e);
(10) to create financial incentives for investment in 
geothermal energy; and
(11) to identify investment and export opportunities for 
United States companies.
(e) Selection of Geothermal Partners.--Concurrent with the 
establishment of the Program pursuant to subsection (c), the Secretary, 
in coordination with relevant United States agencies, and in 
consultation with the appropriate congressional committees, shall 
select at least five geothermal partners that--
(1) include--
(A) not fewer than three countries in the Indo-
Pacific;
(B) not fewer than one country that currently does 
not produce or consume geothermal energy at commercial 
scale; and
(C) not fewer than one country that demonstrates 
significant potential to expand existing capacity for 
geothermal energy generation, such as through recent 
success in adding more geothermal energy to its grid 
and through the inclusion of geothermal in utility 
resource plans; and
(2) are informed by the report required under subsection 
(a).
(f) Agreements.--The Secretary shall pursue memoranda of 
understanding or other appropriate agreements with countries selected 
pursuant to subsection (e) and that are willing to work with the United 
States to implement the Program.
(g) Engagement With the Private Sector and Nonprofits.--The 
Secretary, in coordination with relevant agencies, shall establish an 
advisory mechanism to engage United States geothermal developers, 
equipment manufacturers, financial institutions, industry associations, 
and nonprofit organizations with geothermal expertise in the 
implementation of the Program, including to--
(1) identify export opportunities for United States 
geothermal technology and services in geothermal partner 
countries;
(2) advise on technical standards, data, policy, supply 
chain development, and workforce needs; and
(3) facilitate connections between United States companies 
and organizations and geothermal investment opportunities.

SEC. 7. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL GEOTHERMAL PROGRAM.

(a) Strategy.--Not later than 180 days after the establishment of 
the Program and selection of geothermal partners pursuant to section 6, 
the Secretary, in coordination with relevant United States agencies, 
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that 
describes the United States strategy for advancing geothermal energy 
with each of the geothermal partners.
(b) Elements.--The strategy submitted pursuant to subsection (a) 
shall include the estimated personnel and assistance resources required 
on an annual basis for successful implementation of such strategy, and 
the identification of opportunities for--
(1) supporting regional partnerships on geothermal energy;
(2) strengthening the resilience of geothermal supply 
chains, including--
(A) equipment and services related to geothermal 
resource exploration, characterization, and production; 
and
(B) through partnerships with domestic and allied 
manufacturers;
(3) leveraging existing and developing new multilateral 
financing tools to support geothermal energy;
(4) conducting geothermal-specific feasibility studies and 
other support by the United States Trade and Development 
Agency; and
(5) the United States Export-Import Bank, the Millennium 
Challenge Corporation, and the United States International 
Development Finance Corporation to provide financial support to 
geothermal partners that meet the eligibility requirements of 
the agencies.
(c) Implementation.--The implementation of the Program established 
in section 6 shall be led by the Under Secretary of State for Economic 
Growth, Energy, and the Environment and coordinated with the leadership 
of the Office of International Affairs and the Geothermal Technologies 
Office.
(d) Annual Report.--The Secretary, in coordination with relevant 
United States agencies, shall submit a report to the appropriate 
congressional committees that includes--
(1) a summary of United States activities and engagement 
with each geothermal partner, including the status of 
negotiations to establish memoranda of understanding or other 
agreements pursuant to section 6(f);
(2) any changes to the strategy required by subsection (a) 
for each geothermal partner;
(3) the number of personnel assigned to implementation of 
the Program, by operating unit; and
(4) assistance provided to implement the Program to date by 
operating unit, amount, account, and purpose.
(e) Technical and Financial Assistance.--The Secretary is 
authorized to work with relevant United States agencies to promote and 
coordinate the development and underwriting of grants, loans, loan 
guarantees, and other technical and financial assistance to geothermal 
partners and United States companies that work with geothermal partners 
through the Program established in section 6.
(f) Coordination.--In preparing the strategy required under 
subsection (a) and the annual report required under subsection (d), and 
implementing the Program established in section 6, the Under Secretary 
of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment shall convene 
relevant agencies and the advisory group established in section 6(g) 
and brief the appropriate committees of Congress not less than twice 
per year.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as necessary to carry out 
section 6 for fiscal years 2027 to 2031.
(h) Transfer Authority.--Funds authorized to be appropriated to the 
Department of State pursuant to subsection (g) are authorized to be 
transferred to the relevant United States agencies if the Secretary 
determines and reports to the appropriate committees of Congress that 
to do so is necessary to carry out this Act, and concurrently notifies 
such committees detailing the intended use of such funds, not later 
than 15 days in advance of the transfer of such funds.
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