BLM accepts nominations for geothermal lease sale in Idaho
Celebration Pari, Snake River Plains, Idaho (source: flickr/ gharness, creative commons)
Alexander Richter
30 Jan 2026
The US Bureau of Land Management is now accepting nominations for a geothermal lease sale in Idaho, marking an early step toward future leasing.
The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has opened a nomination period for a geothermal lease sale in Idaho, inviting expressions of interest for federal land parcels with geothermal potential.
Nomination process explained
According to the BLM, the nomination process allows industry participants and other stakeholders to identify parcels of federal land they believe should be considered for geothermal leasing. Nominated parcels will undergo environmental and land-use reviews before any lease sale is scheduled.
According to the BLM, the nomination process allows industry participants and other stakeholders to identify parcels of federal land they believe should be considered for geothermal leasing. Nominated parcels will undergo environmental and land-use reviews before any lease sale is scheduled.
Submitting a nomination does not guarantee that a parcel will be included in a future lease sale. The BLM evaluates nominations based on regulatory requirements, environmental considerations, and consistency with existing land-use plans. The last lease sale in Idaho in December 2025 netted USD 1.3 million over 17 parcels.
Role in geothermal development
The nomination stage represents an early step in the federal geothermal leasing process in the United States. If parcels advance through review, they may later be offered in a competitive geothermal lease sale, providing developers with the opportunity to pursue exploration activities.
Geothermal leases grant the right to explore for geothermal resources and, subject to additional permitting, to develop geothermal energy projects for power generation or direct-use applications.
Idaho geothermal context
Idaho has a long history of geothermal utilisation, particularly for district heating and direct-use projects. The state is also considered to have additional undeveloped geothermal potential, making federal leasing activity a relevant mechanism for enabling future exploration.
The BLM has not announced a date for a potential lease sale, as the nomination and review process must be completed before further steps can be taken.
Source: BLM/ Idaho
