Geothermal Permitting and NEPA Timeline Analysis
In this analysis, we outline the types of NEPA-related analyses and approvals (e.g., environmental assessment), and we provide examples of geothermal development activities (e.g., well drilling) that might require each type of approval, including an overview and discussion of the specific permits.
We conducted an in-depth analysis of timelines specific to each NEPA analysis type, and we analyzed a sample of geothermal projects to identify factors that increased NEPA review timelines. Based on that analysis, we identified proven and potential strategies that can assist geothermal projects by lowering the time necessary to navigate the NEPA process, while maintaining the efficacy of the federal environmental review intact. We also identified areas of potential improvement in NEPA efficiency within each phase of geothermal development. Shortening project timelines can effectively decrease the perceived risk profiles of geothermal development projects.
This submission includes a paper, poster, and presentation for the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) summarizing geothermal permitting and NEPA timeline analysis. Also included are two spreadsheets detailing the NEPA timeline analysis and environmental assessments (EA).
Citation Formats
TY - DATA
AB - In this analysis, we outline the types of NEPA-related analyses and approvals (e.g., environmental assessment), and we provide examples of geothermal development activities (e.g., well drilling) that might require each type of approval, including an overview and discussion of the specific permits.
We conducted an in-depth analysis of timelines specific to each NEPA analysis type, and we analyzed a sample of geothermal projects to identify factors that increased NEPA review timelines. Based on that analysis, we identified proven and potential strategies that can assist geothermal projects by lowering the time necessary to navigate the NEPA process, while maintaining the efficacy of the federal environmental review intact. We also identified areas of potential improvement in NEPA efficiency within each phase of geothermal development. Shortening project timelines can effectively decrease the perceived risk profiles of geothermal development projects.
This submission includes a paper, poster, and presentation for the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) summarizing geothermal permitting and NEPA timeline analysis. Also included are two spreadsheets detailing the NEPA timeline analysis and environmental assessments (EA).
AU - Young, Katherine
A2 - Levine, Aaron
A3 - Witherbee, Kermit
A4 - Keller, Adam
A5 - Balu, Jeremy
A6 - Bennett, Mitchell
DB - Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI)
DP - Open EI | National Renewable Energy Laboratory
DO - 10.15121/1678730
KW - geothermal
KW - energy
KW - NEPA
KW - National Environmental Policy Act
KW - Permitting
KW - Permit
KW - Timeline
KW - NEPA Database
KW - CE
KW - CX
KW - Categorical Exclusion
KW - Determination of NEPA Adequacy
KW - DNA
KW - Environmental Assessment
KW - EA
KW - Enviromental Impact Statement
KW - EIS
KW - OpenEI
KW - Species
LA - English
DA - 2014/09/30
PY - 2014
PB - National Renewable Energy Laboratory
T1 - Geothermal Permitting and NEPA Timeline Analysis
UR - https://doi.org/10.15121/1678730
ER -
Young, Katherine, et al. Geothermal Permitting and NEPA Timeline Analysis. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 30 September, 2014, GDR. https://doi.org/10.15121/1678730.
Young, K., Levine, A., Witherbee, K., Keller, A., Balu, J., & Bennett, M. (2014). Geothermal Permitting and NEPA Timeline Analysis. [Data set]. GDR. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. https://doi.org/10.15121/1678730
Young, Katherine, Aaron Levine, Kermit Witherbee, Adam Keller, Jeremy Balu, and Mitchell Bennett. Geothermal Permitting and NEPA Timeline Analysis. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, September, 30, 2014. Distributed by GDR. https://doi.org/10.15121/1678730
@misc{OEDI_Dataset_7379,
title = {Geothermal Permitting and NEPA Timeline Analysis},
author = {Young, Katherine and Levine, Aaron and Witherbee, Kermit and Keller, Adam and Balu, Jeremy and Bennett, Mitchell},
abstractNote = {In this analysis, we outline the types of NEPA-related analyses and approvals (e.g., environmental assessment), and we provide examples of geothermal development activities (e.g., well drilling) that might require each type of approval, including an overview and discussion of the specific permits.
We conducted an in-depth analysis of timelines specific to each NEPA analysis type, and we analyzed a sample of geothermal projects to identify factors that increased NEPA review timelines. Based on that analysis, we identified proven and potential strategies that can assist geothermal projects by lowering the time necessary to navigate the NEPA process, while maintaining the efficacy of the federal environmental review intact. We also identified areas of potential improvement in NEPA efficiency within each phase of geothermal development. Shortening project timelines can effectively decrease the perceived risk profiles of geothermal development projects.
This submission includes a paper, poster, and presentation for the Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) summarizing geothermal permitting and NEPA timeline analysis. Also included are two spreadsheets detailing the NEPA timeline analysis and environmental assessments (EA).},
url = {https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/1258},
year = {2014},
howpublished = {GDR, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, https://doi.org/10.15121/1678730},
note = {Accessed: 2025-05-03},
doi = {10.15121/1678730}
}
https://dx.doi.org/10.15121/1678730
Details
Data from Sep 30, 2014
Last updated May 17, 2021
Submitted Oct 13, 2020
Organization
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Contact
Katherine Young
303.384.7402
Authors
Original Source
https://gdr.openei.org/submissions/1258Research Areas
Keywords
geothermal, energy, NEPA, National Environmental Policy Act, Permitting, Permit, Timeline, NEPA Database, CE, CX, Categorical Exclusion, Determination of NEPA Adequacy, DNA, Environmental Assessment, EA, Enviromental Impact Statement, EIS, OpenEI, SpeciesDOE Project Details
Project Name Geothermal Regulatory Roadmap
Project Lead Tim Reinhardt
Project Number FY14 AOP 4.2.0.1