--- kind: "section" citation: "42 U.S.C. § 17193" title: "42" title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare" number: "17193" heading: "General geothermal systems research and development" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/17193" units: - "Chapter 152 — Energy Independence and Security" - "Subchapter V — Accelerated Research and Development" - "Part B — Geothermal Energy" --- # §17193. General geothermal systems research and development - (a) **Subsurface components and systems—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall support a [program](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of components and systems capable of withstanding [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) environments and necessary to develop, produce, and monitor [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) reservoirs and produce [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) energy. - (b) **Environmental impacts—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall— - (1) support a [program](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of technologies and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) designed to mitigate or preclude potential adverse environmental impacts of [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) energy development, production or use; - (2) support a research [program](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) to identify potential environmental impacts, including induced seismicity, and environmental benefits of [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) energy development, production, and use, and ensure that the [program](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) described in [paragraph (1)](#b-1) addresses such impacts, including water use and effects on groundwater and local hydrology; - (3) support a [program](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) of research to compare the potential environmental impacts and environmental benefits identified as part of the development, production, and use of [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) energy with the potential emission reductions of greenhouse gases gained by [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) energy development, production, and use; and - (4) in carrying out this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall,[^1] to the maximum extent practicable, consult with relevant federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), including the Environmental Protection [Agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1). - (c) **Reservoir thermal energy storage—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall support a [program](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) of research, development, and demonstration of reservoir thermal energy storage, emphasizing cost-effective improvements through deep direct use engineering, design, and systems research. - (d) **Oil and gas technology transfer initiative—** - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall support an initiative among the Office of Fossil Energy, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and the private sector to research, develop, and demonstrate relevant advanced technologies and operation techniques used in the oil and gas sector for use in [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) energy development. - (2) **Priorities—** In carrying out [paragraph (1)](#d-1), the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall prioritize technologies with the greatest potential to significantly increase the use and lower the cost of [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) energy in the United States, including the cost and speed of [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) drilling surface technologies, large- and small-scale drilling, and well [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7). - (e) **Coproduction of geothermal energy and minerals production research and development initiative—** - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall carry out a research and development initiative under which the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall provide financial assistance to demonstrate the coproduction of critical minerals from [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) resources. - (2) **Requirements—** An award made under [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall— - (A) improve the cost effectiveness of removing minerals from [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) brines as part of the coproduction process; - (B) increase recovery rates of the targeted mineral commodity; - (C) decrease water use and other environmental impacts, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3); and - (D) demonstrate a path to commercial viability. - (f) **Flexible operations—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall support a research initiative on flexible operation of [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) power plants. - (g) **Integrated energy systems—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall identify opportunities for joint research, development, and demonstration [programs](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) between [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) systems and other energy generation or storage systems. - (h) **Drilling data repository—** - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall, in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) of the Interior, establish and operate a voluntary, industry-wide repository of [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) drilling information to lower the cost of future [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) drilling. - (2) **Repository—** - (A) **In general—** In carrying out [paragraph (1)](#h-1), the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall collaborate with countries utilizing a significant amount of [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) energy, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3). - (B) **Data system—** The repository established under [paragraph (1)](#h-1) shall be integrated with the National [Geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) Data System. ## Footnotes [^1]: So in original. The words “The Secretary shall” appear in introductory provisions. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 110–140, title VI, § 614, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1680; Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title III, § 3002(c), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2488.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 2020—Pub. L. 116–260 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to general geothermal systems research and development. ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Effective Date Section effective on the date that is 1 day after Dec. 19, 2007, see section 1601 of Pub. L. 110–140, set out as a note under section 1824 of Title 2, The Congress.