[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10513 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10513
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to co-locate renewable
energy projects on certain existing Federal leased areas, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 19, 2024
Mr. Curtis (for himself and Mr. Levin) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to co-locate renewable
energy projects on certain existing Federal leased areas, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Co-Location Energy Act''.
SEC. 2. CO-LOCATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS.
(a) Authorization To Evaluate Leased Areas for Renewable Energy
Development.--
(1) In general.--In addition to the authority provided
under section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43
U.S.C. 1337(p)) and section 501(a)(4) of the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761(a)(4)), the
Secretary of the Interior may authorize a person to evaluate an
area of an existing Federal energy lease for solar or wind
energy development.
(2) Consent of leaseholder.--The Secretary of the Interior
may not authorize a person to evaluate an area under paragraph
(1) unless the applicable leaseholder consents to the
authorization.
(b) Permits for Renewable Energy Development on Existing Oil, Gas,
Coal, and Geothermal Lease Areas.--
(1) In general.--In addition to the authority provided
under section 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43
U.S.C. 1337(p)) and section 501(a)(4) of the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761(a)(4)), the
Secretary of the Interior may issue a permit to authorize a
person to construct or operate systems or facilities for the
production, transportation, storage, or transmission of energy
from solar or wind resources on an area of an existing Federal
energy lease.
(2) Consent of leaseholder.--The Secretary of the Interior
may not issue a permit for an activity under paragraph (1)
unless the applicable leaseholder consents to the issuance of
the permit.
(c) Categorical Exclusions.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall
determine whether any of the actions for which a permit may be issued
under subsection (b)(1), or any actions that may be carried out
pursuant to a lease granted under section 8(p) of the Outer Continental
Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)) or section 501(a)(4) of the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761(a)(4)), are a
category of actions that normally do not significantly affect the
quality of the human environment within the meaning of section
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C.
4332(2)(C)).
(d) Rulemaking.--The Secretary of the Interior may issue a rule to
carry out this section.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Existing federal energy lease.--The term ``existing
Federal energy lease'' means a lease--
(A) of land managed by the Secretary of the
Interior; and
(B) issued, granted, or renewed before, on, or
after the date of enactment of the Co-Location Energy
Act under--
(i) the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181
et seq.); or
(ii) the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30
U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
(2) Lease.--The term ``lease'' includes an easement and
right-of-way.
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