The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is now accepting nominations for Idaho public lands for competitive geothermal leasing in preparation for the lease sale tentatively scheduled for November 2027.
All nominations must be submitted by June 30, 2026. Nominations received after this deadline will be considered for a future lease sale.
Geothermal energy is a renewable resource that provides baseload electricity with minimal carbon emissions. It is especially abundant in the Western United States, where the BLM manages geothermal leasing, exploration, and development on approximately 245 million surface acres of public lands and the 700 million acres where the U.S. owns subsurface mineral rights.
It is important to note that nominations are not automatically included for sale once received. The BLM cannot guarantee that any nominated lands will be offered. Each parcel undergoes review for availability, as well as evaluation for natural resource and cultural concerns, before being made available. Nominations require a nonrefundable filing fee of $145, plus $0.14 per acre of land nominated.
All nominations must be submitted using Form 3203-1. Notices for any future sale offering nominated parcels, as well as results from such sales, will be posted on the BLM Idaho Geothermal Energy website. For nomination requirements regarding maximum acreage, acceptable land descriptions, and block nominations, please refer to 43 CFR 3203.
Leasing represents the first step in developing federal geothermal resources. The BLM ensures that geothermal development complies with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and other applicable legal requirements.
Geothermal lease sales support domestic energy production and American energy independence, contributing to the nation’s economic and military security. Consistent with Executive Order 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” the BLM’s geothermal lease sales help meet the energy needs of U.S. citizens, strengthen the nation’s position as a global energy leader, and advance American Energy Dominance.