This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to mandate specific geothermal assessments for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey and in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and Puerto Rico officials, is tasked with conducting these assessments. The required assessments must include the production of high-resolution maps, evaluations of groundwater vulnerability , particularly in karst terrain, and analyses of seismic hazards and induced seismicity risks associated with enhanced geothermal systems exploration and development. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Secretary of the Interior submit reports to Congress annually for the first year and biennially thereafter, detailing the status, coordination, preliminary results, obstacles, and planned next steps of these geothermal assessments.
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Timeline
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Puerto Rico Energy Opportunity and Geothermal Assessment Act of 2026
USA119th CongressHR-10275| House
| Updated: 9/3/2026
This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to mandate specific geothermal assessments for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey and in consultation with the Secretary of Energy and Puerto Rico officials, is tasked with conducting these assessments. The required assessments must include the production of high-resolution maps, evaluations of groundwater vulnerability , particularly in karst terrain, and analyses of seismic hazards and induced seismicity risks associated with enhanced geothermal systems exploration and development. Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Secretary of the Interior submit reports to Congress annually for the first year and biennially thereafter, detailing the status, coordination, preliminary results, obstacles, and planned next steps of these geothermal assessments.