The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has successfully leased two geothermal parcels in Malheur County, Oregon, totaling 5,235 acres of public land.
The leases generated US$430,518 in total receipts, marking an average return of US$82 per acre, the highest per-acre revenue from a BLM geothermal lease sale in Oregon in recent years.
Revenue distribution from the sale will be divided among various stakeholders. Fifty percent of the total bid, rental, and future royalty receipts will go to the State of Oregon. Malheur County will receive 25%, while the remaining 25% will be allocated to the U.S. Treasury.
The lease sale supports the expansion of domestic geothermal energy production, reinforcing American energy independence and contributing to both economic and national security. As outlined in Executive Order 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” geothermal lease sales align with the federal goal of establishing the United States as a global energy leader for the long term.
“Leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal geothermal resources,” stated the BLM. The agency emphasized that all geothermal projects undergo rigorous oversight in line with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and other governing laws.
The BLM plays a key role in overseeing geothermal leasing, exploration, and development across approximately 245 million surface acres and 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate. These lease sales are hosted online through EnergyNet, and related planning documents are accessible via the BLM National NEPA Register.
Geothermal energy remains a significant and growing resource in the western United States, where the BLM continues to facilitate responsible development.