# Federal Reviews Delay Geothermal Exploration

An opinion article reports that lengthy federal reviews are delaying geothermal exploration on federal land, including low-impact projects seeking categorical exclusions (CXs). Some projects wait several months or more than a year for approval, and research cited in the article found that 8% of geothermal CX reviews took more than a year. For developers and contractors, permitting uncertainty can affect project schedules, investment decisions, and the timing of related work; the article also points to potential congressional action to establish review deadlines.

- Companies pursuing geothermal work on federal land should account for potentially lengthy CX review periods in project schedules and investment plans.
- Contractors can use the reported delays to assess schedule and cost exposure when developing proposals or planning work dependent on federal approvals.
- The article identifies possible congressional action on review deadlines; firms with affected projects may find it useful to follow that specific legislative issue.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** November 05, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)
- Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
- U.S. Congress (Congress)

### Sources
- [Geothermal exploration suffers from slow review processes](https://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/6199155-us-geothermal-power-potential) - The Hill