Marion County could receive a share of the revenue generated by two geothermal leases covering more than 9,500 acres of federal land in the Mount Hood National Forest.
The Bureau of Land Management accepted winning bids totaling $1,155,706 for the two Oregon parcels during a geothermal lease sale. Money from the winning bids, rental payments and any future royalties will be distributed among Marion County, the State of Oregon and the U.S. Treasury.
“Geothermal is an abundant resource, especially in the West, with the potential to provide reliable energy,” BLM Oregon-Washington State Director Kim Prill said. “The BLM is committed to unlocking that potential to support American energy production and our local economies.”
The BLM could issue the leases after completing its review and receiving payment from the winning bidders.
Leasing does not mean geothermal development will begin immediately. It is the first step in a longer process that could eventually include exploration and energy production. Any proposed development would remain subject to environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act and other applicable laws.
The BLM manages geothermal leasing, exploration and development on approximately 245 million acres of public land, along with about 700 million acres where the federal government owns the subsurface mineral rights.
