# Senate Advances Energy Resilience Bills

On September 30, 2026, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources advanced a group of bipartisan energy bills covering next-generation geothermal development, subsurface-resource mapping, and electric-grid security. Proposals include $800 million for geothermal development, a five-year reauthorization of the U.S. Geological Survey’s Earth MRI program, and expanded grid-risk planning and cybersecurity support. The bills still require further legislative action; the signals announce no solicitations or contract awards.

- Proposed funding and program reauthorizations could create future opportunities for geothermal developers and R&D contractors, geospatial and subsurface-data providers, and firms serving critical-mineral and natural-hydrogen exploration.
- Grid-planning and public-power cybersecurity measures could lead to future agency programs, grants, technical-assistance needs, or related procurements if enacted.
- Companies can map their capabilities to these program areas and follow the bills’ progress; there is no active solicitation or stated bid deadline to act on now.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities, Environment
**Topics:** Grants & Funding, Cybersecurity, Policy
**Published:** October 02, 2026

### Government Entities
- Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (ENR Committee)
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
- U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
- U.S. Senate

### Key Quotes
> To meet our energy demand, we need to invest in activities that make it possible to further unlock our full potential. If we do, we can secure lower energy costs for Americans, shore up our national security, and build tomorrow’s energy infrastructure today.
> — John Hickenlooper, U.S. Senator

> American energy security isn’t a partisan issue – it touches the lives of every American from Anchorage to Elko.
> — Catherine Cortez Masto, U.S. Senator

### Sources
- [Cortez Masto Bills to Bolster American Geothermal Production, Protect the Energy Grid Clear Key Senate Hurdle - Senator Catherine Cortez Masto](https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cortez-masto-bills-to-bolster-american-geothermal-production-protect-the-energy-grid-clear-key-senate-hurdle/) - Cortezmasto Senate
- [Hickenlooper Celebrates Committee Passage of His Bipartisan Energy Bills | Senator John Hickenlooper](https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/press_releases/hickenlooper-celebrates-committee-passage-of-his-bipartisan-energy-bills/) - Hickenlooper Senate
- [Murkowski Advances Three Alaska Energy and Resource Bills Through Committee](https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/press/release/murkowski-advances-three-alaska-energy-and-resource-bills-through-committee) - Murkowski Senate