The reasons provided by BLM for rescinding the regulations governing geothermal resources leasing vary with some rules designated as “no longer in use.
Retiring traditional power sources like coal and natural gas without putting firm replacements in place, just as new demands—especially from AI data centers—are skyrocketing, sets us up for trouble.
The lack of an overall risk-based approach has resulted in municipalities and states establishing different water-quality parameters, including for E coli or fecal coliform that have been “highly variable."
“By responsibly developing energy resources on public lands, we’re (the BLM) helping to secure a reliable, diverse energy future for the nation while supporting jobs and local economies,” Groffy said.