Regulatory and Permitting Analysis

NLR evaluates the deployment impacts of regulatory and permitting requirements on geothermal energy. In addition, NLR provides technical regulatory assistance to federal agencies.

NLR regulatory and permitting analysis provides national, state, and local decision makers with information critical to making informed decisions and understanding the impact of regulatory frameworks.

Capabilities

• Impacts analysis
  Evaluation of the geothermal energy deployment impacts of existing regulatory and permitting requirements at the federal, state, and local levels
  
  
• Process analysis
  Evaluation of opportunities to streamline regulatory and permitting processes applicable to geothermal project development
  
  
• Technical assistance
  Available to federal, state, and local entities developing geothermal regulatory and permitting guidance

Publications

Geothermal Interagency Collaboration Task Force: Summary of Findings, NLR Technical Report (2023)

Topics and Considerations for Developing State Geothermal Regulations, NLR Technical Report (2023)

Non-Technical Barriers to Geothermal Development in California and Nevada, NLR Technical Report (2022)

GeoVision Analysis Supporting Task Force Report: Barriers – An Analysis of Nontechnical Barriers to Geothermal Deployment and Potential Improvement Scenarios, NLR Technical Report (2019)

View all NLR publications about geothermal research.

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