119-s896

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 896 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 896

 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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 March 6, 2025

Mr. Curtis (for himself and Mr. Hickenlooper) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment 
 and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

 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) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Existing federal energy lease.--The term ``existing 
 Federal energy lease'' means a lease, easement, or right-of-
 way, as applicable--
        (A) on land managed by the Secretary; and
        (B) that was issued, granted, or renewed on or 
 before the date of enactment of this 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) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of the Interior.

    (b) Authorization To Evaluate Leased Areas for Renewable Energy 
Development.--

    (1) In general.--In addition to the authority of the 
 Secretary 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 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 may not 
 authorize a person to evaluate an area under paragraph

    (1) unless the applicable leaseholder consents to that 
 authorization.
            (c) Permits for Renewable Energy Development on Existing Oil, Gas, 
Coal, and Geothermal Lease Areas.--

    (1) In general.--In addition to the authority of the 
 Secretary 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 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 may not issue a 
 permit for an activity described in paragraph

    (1) unless the 
 applicable leaseholder consents to the issuance of that permit.
            (d) Categorical Exclusions.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall determine whether any of 
the actions for which a permit may be issued under subsection
            (c) (1) , 
or any actions that may be carried out pursuant to constructing or 
operating systems or facilities for the production, transportation, 
storage, or transmission of energy from solar or wind resources on 
areas not subject to an existing Federal energy lease, 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) ).

    (e) Rulemaking.--The Secretary shall issue a rule to carry out this 
section.
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