Bureau of Land Management Approves Geothermal Project in Utah

by Paul Ciampoli
APPA News Director
September 25, 2023

The Bureau of Land Management recently approved the Rodatherm Geothermal Test Bed project, which would assess the commercial viability of an advanced geothermal electricity generation facility on BLM-managed lands in Beaver and Millard counties, Utah.

Successful testing has the potential to support future commercial development, continuing the BLM’s commitment to clean energy development on our nation’s public lands.

The project is expected to operate for approximately 12 months and will involve the development of two well pads, drilling of five wells, testing of two closed geothermal loops, and construction of necessary access roads. The project approval comes along with a Finding of No Significant Impact, a step in the environmental review process. 

The decision record, Finding of No Significant Impact, and the environmental assessment may be found on BLM’s ePlanning website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2022615/510.

Geothermal was the first type of renewable energy that the BLM approved for production on public lands, with the first project approved in 1978.

Today there are 48 operating power plants developing geothermal energy from BLM-managed lands, with a combined total of more than 2.5 gigawatts of generation capacity. Learn more at the BLM’s Geothermal Energy page.