---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 17197"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "17197"
heading: "Advanced geothermal computing and data science research and development"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/17197"
units:
  - "Chapter 152 — Energy Independence and Security"
  - "Subchapter V — Accelerated Research and Development"
  - "Part B — Geothermal Energy"
---

# §17197. Advanced geothermal computing and data science research and development

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall carry out a [program](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) of research and development of advanced computing and data science tools for [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) energy.
- (b) **Programs—** The [program](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5) authorized in [subsection (a)](#a) shall include the following:
  - (1) **Advanced computing for geothermal systems technologies—** Research, development, and demonstration of technologies to develop advanced data, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related computing tools to assist in locating [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) resources, to increase the reliability of site characterization, to increase the rate and efficiency of drilling, to improve induced seismicity mitigation, and to support [enhanced geothermal systems](/usc/42/17191.md?p=3) technologies.
  - (2) **Geothermal systems reservoir modeling—** Research, development, and demonstration of models of [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) reservoir performance and [enhanced geothermal systems](/usc/42/17191.md?p=3) reservoir stimulation technologies and techniques, with an emphasis on accurately modeling fluid and heat flow, permeability evolution, geomechanics, geochemistry, seismicity, and operational performance over time, including collaboration with industry and field validation.
- (c) **Coordination—** In carrying out these [programs](/usc/42/17151.md?p=5), the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall ensure coordination and consultation with the [Department](/usc/42/17001.md?p=1) of Energy’s Office of Science. The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, coordination of these activities with the [Department](/usc/42/17001.md?p=1) of Energy [National Laboratories](/usc/42/17211.md?p=4), institutes of higher education, and the private sector.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–140, title VI, § 618, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1683; Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title III, § 3002(g)(1), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2494.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2020—Pub. L. 116–260 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to Center for Geothermal Technology Transfer.

### 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.