---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 17204"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "17204"
heading: "High cost region geothermal energy grant program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/17204"
units:
  - "Chapter 152 — Energy Independence and Security"
  - "Subchapter V — Accelerated Research and Development"
  - "Part B — Geothermal Energy"
---

# §17204. High cost region geothermal energy grant program

- (a) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Eligible entity—** The term “[eligible entity](/usc/42/17151.md?p=1)” means—
    - (A) a utility;
    - (B) an electric cooperative;
    - (C) a [State](/usc/42/17151.md?p=6);
    - (D) a political subdivision of a [State](/usc/42/17151.md?p=6);
    - (E) an [Indian tribe](/usc/42/17151.md?p=4); or
    - (F) a Native [corporation](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2).
  - (2) **High-cost region—** The term “high-cost region” means a region in which the average cost of electrical power or heat exceeds 150 percent of the national average retail cost, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3).
- (b) **Program—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/17001.md?p=3) shall use amounts made available to carry out this section to make grants to [eligible entities](/usc/42/17151.md?p=1) for activities described in [subsection (c)](#c).
- (c) **Eligible activities—** An [eligible entity](/usc/42/17151.md?p=1) may use grant funds under this section, with respect to a [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) energy [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) in a high-cost region, only—
  - (1) to conduct a feasibility study, including a study of exploration, geochemical testing, geomagnetic surveys, geologic information gathering, baseline environmental studies, well drilling, resource characterization, permitting, and economic analysis;
  - (2) for design and engineering costs, relating to the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2); and
  - (3) to demonstrate and promote commercial application of technologies related to [geothermal](/usc/42/17191.md?p=6) energy as part of the [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2).
- (d) **Cost sharing—** The cost-sharing requirements of [section 16352 of this title](/usc/42/16352.md) shall apply to any [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) carried out under this section.
- (e) **Authorization of appropriations—** Out of funds authorized under [section 17202 of this title](/usc/42/17202.md), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 110–140, title VI, § 625, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1685; Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title III, § 3002(l), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2496.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2020—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 116–260, § 3002(l)(1), inserted “or heat” after “electrical power”.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 116–260, § 3002(l)(2), amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.”

### 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.