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A GreenBuildingAdvisor report published October 6, 2026, describes bipartisan efforts to support geothermal production, led by the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act, H.R. 5631. The article says geothermal was largely spared the clean-energy tax-credit phaseouts affecting wind and solar, but the package’s prospects and its effects on project development remain unclear.
A bipartisan package of proposed legislation to support geothermal energy is drawing attention as federal tax-credit timelines tighten for some clean-energy projects. In a report published October 6, 2026, GreenBuildingAdvisor identified the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act (H.R. 5631) as the leading proposal, describing it as a combination of six earlier bills focused on geothermal production.
The report says the legislation follows changes made by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which established phaseout schedules for clean-energy tax credits tied to wind and solar. Under the account provided, wind and solar projects starting construction after July 5, 2026, must be in service by the end of 2027 to qualify for the 45Y production tax credit. The report says the credit does not disappear entirely until 2036.
Geothermal projects have a different timeline. According to GreenBuildingAdvisor, qualifying technologies other than wind and solar can begin construction before 2033 and receive the full credit, with incentives phasing down in later years. The report says the Act largely left the 45Y production tax credit and 48E investment tax credit intact for geothermal.
H.R. 5631 is described as an umbrella measure bringing together six previously proposed bipartisan bills. The source report does not provide a complete account of the package’s provisions, its sponsors, committee status, or a floor-vote schedule. It characterizes the legislation as part of a broader effort to encourage geothermal production, rather than reporting that the measure has passed.
Geothermal’s Longer Credit Runway
The contrast in tax-credit treatment could make geothermal a more stable option for developers planning projects over several years. The report says wind and solar projects face near-term construction and service deadlines to retain 45Y eligibility, while geothermal projects may qualify for the full credit if they begin construction before 2033. That difference may influence project planning, investment decisions, and utility resource plans, though the report does not establish that developers are already changing course.
Geothermal power can provide electricity around the clock, unlike generation that varies with sunlight or wind. The report presents expanded use of enhanced geothermal systems as a potential way to increase the resource’s contribution. That is a prospect, not a confirmed outcome: legislative support and tax-credit eligibility alone do not establish how many projects will be built, how quickly they can connect to the grid, or what they will cost.
For readers following clean-energy policy, the immediate development is the combination of a comparatively favorable credit schedule and bipartisan legislative activity. The practical effect will depend on what Congress does and whether project developers can turn policy support into operating facilities.
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Tax Credits After the 2025 Law
The GreenBuildingAdvisor report says the One Big Beautiful Bill Act became law in 2025 and created different sunset rules for clean-energy incentives. It describes 45Y as a performance-based credit for clean electricity production and 48E as an investment credit for facilities generating electricity with low or zero greenhouse-gas emissions. Under the report’s account, wind and solar face stricter near-term deadlines than geothermal and other technologies.
Geothermal Rising, a nonprofit advocacy group, welcomed the geothermal credit treatment in a July 2025 press release. Its executive director said the incentives offered a longer period of certainty for developers, utilities, and workers. That statement reflects the group’s view of the policy’s value; it is not evidence that the incentives have already produced a particular level of investment or construction.
The report also points to enhanced geothermal systems as an area with potential for growth. The source identifies a drilling rig at an enhanced geothermal project in Utah, but does not provide project output, costs, or construction milestones. Those details are not sufficient to establish the scale of current deployment.
“This framework delivers the long-term certainty our industry has pursued for years.”
— Geothermal Rising executive director, in a July 2025 press release
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Bill’s Path and Project Impact
The report does not say whether H.R. 5631 has advanced through a committee, received a vote, or been scheduled for consideration. It also does not name the six bills incorporated into the package or detail the proposed measures, so their specific policy effects cannot be assessed from the information provided.
It remains unclear how much geothermal development the package would support, whether the tax-credit rules will change, and how many projects could meet the applicable construction deadlines. The source describes bipartisan efforts but does not identify individual lawmakers or document the level of support. Claims that the package could propel geothermal to new levels are projections, not confirmed results.
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Congressional Steps to Watch
The next concrete developments to watch are publication of the bill’s detailed provisions, committee action, and any scheduled House consideration of H.R. 5631. The report provides no timetable for those steps. Readers should distinguish the introduction or bundling of proposals from enactment: the tax-credit rules described in the article are current policy, while the proposed legislative package is not reported as law.
Further reporting may clarify how the bill’s provisions would work alongside the existing 45Y and 48E credits, and whether lawmakers intend to change eligibility, funding, or other requirements. Until Congress acts and project-level information becomes available, the scale and timing of any resulting geothermal expansion remain uncertain.
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Key Questions
What is the Geothermal Energy Advancement Act?
H.R. 5631 is a proposed bill that GreenBuildingAdvisor describes as combining six previously proposed bipartisan measures focused on geothermal production. The report does not list all six measures or detail their provisions.
Has the bill become law?
The report does not say that H.R. 5631 has passed Congress or become law. It describes the measure as part of a bipartisan legislative effort.
How do geothermal tax credits differ from those for wind and solar?
According to the report, geothermal was largely spared the phaseouts affecting wind and solar. Eligible geothermal and other non-wind, non-solar projects can begin construction before 2033 to claim the full credit, with incentives phasing down in later years. Wind and solar projects starting after July 5, 2026, face a reported end-of-2027 service deadline for 45Y eligibility.
Why are enhanced geothermal systems part of the discussion?
The report says increased development of enhanced geothermal systems could expand geothermal power. It presents that as potential; it does not quantify expected generation or confirm how many projects will be built.
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