Co-Location Energy Act

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10513 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                               H. R. 10513

   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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           December 19, 2024

 Mr. Curtis (for himself and Mr. Levin) introduced the following bill; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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) Authorization To Evaluate Leased Areas for Renewable Energy 
Development.--
            (1) In general.--In addition to the authority provided 
        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 of the Interior 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 of the Interior 
        may not authorize a person to evaluate an area under paragraph 
        (1) unless the applicable leaseholder consents to the 
        authorization.
    (b) Permits for Renewable Energy Development on Existing Oil, Gas, 
Coal, and Geothermal Lease Areas.--
            (1) In general.--In addition to the authority provided 
        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 of the Interior 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 of the Interior 
        may not issue a permit for an activity under paragraph (1) 
        unless the applicable leaseholder consents to the issuance of 
        the permit.
    (c) Categorical Exclusions.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
determine whether any of the actions for which a permit may be issued 
under subsection (b)(1), or any actions that may be carried out 
pursuant to a lease granted under section 8(p) of the Outer Continental 
Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)) or section 501(a)(4) of the Federal 
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761(a)(4)), 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)).
    (d) Rulemaking.--The Secretary of the Interior may issue a rule to 
carry out this section.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Existing federal energy lease.--The term ``existing 
        Federal energy lease'' means a lease--
                    (A) of land managed by the Secretary of the 
                Interior; and
                    (B) issued, granted, or renewed before, on, or 
                after the date of enactment of the Co-Location Energy 
                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) Lease.--The term ``lease'' includes an easement and 
        right-of-way.
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