The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced it will host a competitive geothermal lease sale on October 21, 2025, featuring 113 parcels that cover a combined 377,678 acres across multiple Nevada counties, including Churchill, Esmeralda, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, and Washoe.
The online auction will be conducted through EnergyNet.
Revenue from the lease sale will be shared among different stakeholders. Specifically, 50% of the bid, rental fees, and future royalties will go to the state of Nevada. The county where the lease is located will receive 25%, and the remaining 25% will be allocated to the U.S. Treasury.
Geothermal power is highlighted as a dependable, dispatchable baseload energy source with high capacity density, allowing efficient utilization of federal lands for energy generation. The western United States is especially rich in geothermal resources, and the BLM oversees leasing, exploration, and development across roughly 245 million surface acres of public lands and 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate under federal ownership.
Each competitive geothermal lease is issued for an initial 10-year term. During this period, lessees are authorized to explore and potentially develop geothermal resources. Leases can be extended if production begins or if lessees demonstrate proof of ongoing exploration.
Prior to including parcels in a sale, the BLM undertakes a full environmental review in line with the National Environmental Policy Act and other regulations. This process ensures potential impacts are evaluated and that suitable stipulations are applied to safeguard additional resource values.