Pacific POWER Act

[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.
                                 <all>