BLM solicits for comments on planned geothermal lease sale in Idaho
Idaho Falls, Bonneville County, Idaho (source: Dschwen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Carlo Cariaga
22 Apr 2025
The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments on a proposed geothermal lease sale covering nine parcels in three counties in Idaho.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking input on proposed geothermal leasing of eight parcels totaling approximately 20,000 acres in Elmore and Washington counties, as well as one parcel totaling approximately 3,740 acres in Bonneville County, in Idaho. Comments must be received by 5 May 2025 by the following methods:
- For Elmore and Washington counties:
- By the project ePlanning website or by email to BLM_ID_FourRiversOffice@blm.gov
- For Bonneville County
- By the project ePlanning website or by mail to the BLM Pocatello Field Office
The tentative date for the geothermal lease sale is on September 2025.
Leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal geothermal resources. The BLM ensures geothermal development meets the requirements set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and other applicable legal authorities.
The BLM will also use this public participation opportunity under the NEPA to assist the agency in satisfying the public involvement requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 470(f)) pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about historic and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by the proposed action will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA.
A recently held geothermal lease sale in Utah made a new record for getting the highest revenue per acre, demonstrating a growing interest from developers and investors on geothermal development within BLM public lands.
Source: Bureau of Land Management
