Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ad-
vanced Geothermal Research and Development Act of 
2019’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
Sec. 3. Hydrothermal research and development. 
Sec. 4. General geothermal systems research and development. 
Sec. 5. Enhanced geothermal systems research and development. 
Sec. 6. Geothermal heat pumps and direct use. 
Sec. 7. Cost sharing and proposal evaluation. 
Sec. 8. Advanced geothermal computing and data science research and develop-
ment. 
Sec. 9. Geothermal workforce development. 
Sec. 10. Organization and administration of programs. 
Sec. 11. Repeals. 
Sec. 12. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 13. International geothermal energy development. 
Sec. 14. Reauthorization of High Cost Region Geothermal Energy Grant Pro-
gram. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
Section 612 of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17191) is amended— 
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(1) ENGINEERED.—When referring to enhanced 
geothermal systems, the term ‘engineered’ means de-
signed to access subsurface heat, including stimula-
tion and nonstimulation technologies to address one 
or more of the following issues: 
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‘‘(A) Lack of effective permeability, porosity 
or open fracture connectivity within the heat res-
ervoir. 
‘‘(B) Insufficient contained geofluid in the 
heat reservoir. 
‘‘(C) A low average geothermal gradient 
which necessitates deeper drilling, or the use of 
alternative heat sources or heat generation proc-
esses.’’; 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (7) 
as paragraphs (3) through (8), respectively; and 
(3) by adding after paragraph (1) the following: 
‘‘(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible enti-
ty’ means any of the following entities: 
‘‘(A) An institution of higher education. 
‘‘(B) A National laboratory. 
‘‘(C) A Federal research agency. 
‘‘(D) A State research agency. 
‘‘(E) A nonprofit research organization. 
‘‘(F) An industrial entity. 
‘‘(G) A consortium of 2 or more entities de-
scribed in subparagraphs (A) through (F).’’. 
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SEC. 3. HYDROTHERMAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
Section 613 of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17192) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘SEC. 613. HYDROTHERMAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
MENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 
program of research, development, demonstration, and com-
mercial application for geothermal energy production from 
hydrothermal systems. 
‘‘(b) PROGRAMS.—The program authorized in sub-
section (a) shall include the following: 
‘‘(1) 
ADVANCED
HYDROTHERMAL
RESOURCE 
TOOLS.—The research and development of advanced 
geologic tools to assist in locating hydrothermal re-
sources, and to increase the reliability of site charac-
terization, including the development of new imaging 
and sensing technologies and techniques to assist in 
prioritization of targets for characterization; 
‘‘(2) EXPLORATORY DRILLING FOR GEOTHERMAL 
RESOURCES.—The demonstration of advanced tech-
nologies and techniques of siting and exploratory 
drilling for undiscovered resources in a variety of geo-
logic settings, carried out in collaboration with indus-
try partners that will assist in the acquisition of high 
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quality data sets relevant for hydrothermal subsurface 
characterization activities’’. 
SEC. 4. GENERAL GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT. 
Section 614 of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17193) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘SEC. 614. GENERAL GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT. 
‘‘(a) SUBSURFACE COMPONENTS AND SYSTEMS.—The 
Secretary shall support a program of research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application of components 
and systems capable of withstanding geothermal environ-
ments and necessary to develop, produce, and monitor geo-
thermal reservoirs and produce geothermal energy. 
‘‘(b) 
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS.—The 
Secretary 
shall— 
‘‘(1) support a program of research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application of tech-
nologies and practices designed to mitigate or pre-
clude potential adverse environmental impacts of geo-
thermal energy development, production or use; and 
‘‘(2) support a research program to identify po-
tential environmental impacts, including induced 
seismicity, and environmental benefits of geothermal 
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energy development, production, and use, and ensure 
that the program described in paragraph (1) address-
es such impacts, including water use and effects on 
groundwater and local hydrology; 
‘‘(3) support a program of research to compare 
the potential environmental impacts and environ-
mental benefits identified as part of the development, 
production, and use of geothermal energy with the po-
tential emission reductions of greenhouse gases gained 
by geothermal energy development, production, and 
use; and 
‘‘(4) in carrying out this section, the Secretary 
shall, to the maximum extent practicable, consult 
with relevant federal agencies, including the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
‘‘(c) RESERVOIR THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE.—The 
Secretary shall support a program of research, development, 
and demonstration of reservoir thermal energy storage, em-
phasizing cost-effective improvements through deep direct 
use engineering, design, and systems research. 
‘‘(d) OIL AND GAS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER INITIA-
TIVE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall support 
an initiative among the Office of Fossil Energy, the 
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 
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and the private sector to research, develop, and dem-
onstrate relevant advanced technologies and operation 
techniques used in the oil and gas sector for use in 
geothermal energy development. 
‘‘(2) PRIORITIES.—In carrying out paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall prioritize technologies with the 
greatest potential to significantly increase the use and 
lower the cost of geothermal energy in the United 
States, including the cost and speed of geothermal 
drilling surface technologies, and well construction. 
‘‘(e) COPRODUCTION OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY AND 
MINERALS PRODUCTION RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT 
INITIATIVE.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out a research and development initiative under 
which the Secretary shall award grants to dem-
onstrate the coproduction of critical minerals from 
geothermal resources. 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—An award made under 
paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) improve the cost effectiveness of remov-
ing minerals from geothermal brines as part of 
the coproduction process; 
‘‘(B) increase recovery rates of the targeted 
mineral commodity; 
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‘‘(C) decrease water use and other environ-
mental impacts, as determined by the Secretary; 
and 
‘‘(D) demonstrate a path to commercial via-
bility. 
‘‘(f) FLEXIBLE OPERATIONS.—The Secretary shall 
support a research initiative on flexible operation of geo-
thermal power plants. 
‘‘(g) HYBRID ENERGY SYSTEMS.—The Secretary shall 
identify opportunities for joint research, development, and 
demonstration programs between geothermal systems and 
other energy generation or storage systems.’’. 
SEC. 5. ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH AND 
DEVELOPMENT. 
Section 615 of the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17194) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘SEC. 615. ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall support a pro-
gram of research, development, demonstration, and commer-
cial application for enhanced geothermal systems, including 
the programs described in subsection (b). 
‘‘(b) ENHANCED
GEOTHERMAL
SYSTEMS
TECH-
NOLOGIES.—In collaboration with industry partners, insti-
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tutions of higher education, and the national laboratories, 
the Secretary shall support a program of research, develop-
ment, demonstration, and commercial application of the 
technologies to achieve higher efficiency and lower cost en-
hanced geothermal systems, including— 
‘‘(1) reservoir stimulation; 
‘‘(2) drilled, non-stimulated (e.g. closed-loop) res-
ervoir technologies; 
‘‘(3) reservoir characterization, monitoring, and 
modeling and understanding of the surface area and 
volume of fractures; 
‘‘(4) stress and fracture mapping including real 
time monitoring and modeling; 
‘‘(5) tracer development; 
‘‘(6) three and four-dimensional seismic imaging 
and tomography; 
‘‘(7) well placement and orientation; 
‘‘(8) long-term reservoir management; 
‘‘(9) drilling technologies, methods, and tools; 
‘‘(10) improved exploration tools; 
‘‘(11) zonal isolation; and 
‘‘(12) understanding induced seismicity risks 
from reservoir engineering and stimulation. 
‘‘(c) FRONTIER OBSERVATORY
FOR RESEARCH
IN 
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY.—The Secretary shall support the 
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establishment and construction of up to 3 field research 
sites, which shall each be known as a ‘Frontier Observatory 
for Research in Geothermal Energy’ or ‘FORGE’ site to de-
velop, test, and enhance techniques and tools for enhanced 
geothermal energy. 
‘‘(1) DUTIES.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) award grants in support of research 
and development projects focused on advanced 
monitoring technologies, new technologies and 
approaches for implementing multi-zone stimula-
tions, nonstimulation techniques, and dynamic 
reservoir modeling that incorporates all available 
high-fidelity characterization data; and 
‘‘(B) seek opportunities to coordinate efforts 
and share information with domestic and inter-
national partners engaged in research and devel-
opment of geothermal systems and related tech-
nology, including coordination between FORGE 
sites. 
‘‘(2) SITE SELECTION.—Of the FORGE sites re-
ferred to in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— 
‘‘(A) consider applications through a com-
petitive, merit-reviewed process, from National 
Laboratories, multi-institutional collaborations, 
institutes of higher education and other appro-
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priate entities best suited to provide national 
leadership on geothermal related issues and per-
form the duties enumerated under this sub-
section; and 
‘‘(B) prioritize existing field sites and fa-
cilities with capabilities relevant to the duties 
enumerated under this subsection. 
‘‘(3) EXISTING FORGE SITES.—A FORGE site 
already in existence on the date of enactment of this 
Act may continue to receive support. 
‘‘(4) FUNDING.—Out of funds authorized to be 
appropriated under section 12 of the ‘Advanced Geo-
thermal Research and Development Act of 2019’, there 
shall be made available to the Secretary to carry out 
the FORGE activities under this paragraph— 
‘‘(A) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 
‘‘(B) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
‘‘(C) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; 
‘‘(D) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and 
‘‘(E) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2025. 
In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall con-
sider the balance between funds dedicated to construc-
tion and operations and research activities to reflect 
the state of site development. 
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‘‘(d) ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS DEMONSTRA-
TIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date of en-
actment of the ‘Advanced Geothermal Research and 
Development Act of 2019’, the Secretary, in collabora-
tion with industry partners, institutions of higher 
education, and the national laboratories, shall sup-
port an initiative for demonstration of enhanced geo-
thermal systems for power production or direct use. 
‘‘(2) PROJECTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Under the initiative de-
scribed in paragraph (1), demonstration projects 
shall be carried out in locations that are com-
mercially viable for enhanced geothermal systems 
development, while also considering environ-
mental impacts to the maximum extent prac-
ticable, as determined by the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) 
REQUIREMENTS.—Demonstration 
projects under subparagraph (A) shall— 
‘‘(i) collectively demonstrate— 
‘‘(I) different geologic settings, 
such as hot sedimentary aquifers, lay-
ered geologic systems, supercritical sys-
tems, and basement rock systems; and 
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