The subterranean heat that drove volcanic activity which shaped Idaho's landscape can today drive turbines to produce electric power 
or directly heat buildings and other facilities.  Geothermal energy is renewable and produces less than a quarter-pound of carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity.  (By comparison, natural gas - the cleanest fossil fuel - emits 1.3 lbs/kWh and coal more than 
2 lbs/kWh.)

The BLM administers leasing of all Federal geothermal resources.  More than 12.7 million acres of BLM-managed lands and 17.7 million acres of National Forest lands in Idaho have potential for geothermal energy development.  Development scenarios estimate that by 2015, Idaho could have 1,670 MW of geothermal electric generation capacity, placing it third in the Nation - behind California and Nevada - in geothermal potential.

The BLM published regulations for competitive leasing of Federal geothermal resources in 2007.  In 2008, the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service completed a programmatic EIS that identified which Federal lands are open for geothermal leasing and development. 

The PEIS identifies lands in seven Idaho BLM Field Offices (FOs) as areas with high geothermal potential: Crane Creek - Cove Creek and other areas in the Four Rivers FO; the Raft River area and other sites in the Burley FO; Big Creek Hot Springs in the Salmon FO and Salmon-Challis National Forest; Rexburg and Willow Springs in the Upper Snake FO; China Cap in the Pocatello FO; and locations in the Jarbidge and Shoshone FOs.

Development at any site requires additional evaluation under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to address site-specific resource values and analyze potential impacts.

Leasing Lands for Geothermal Development

The first step in developing geothermal energy resources on Federal lands is nominating lands for leasing.  Nominations must be submitted on BLM Form 3203-1 for lands indentified as open for geothermal development and comply with the 2007 regulations [43 CFR 3203; 72 FR 24406, May 2, 2007], including requirements for maximum acreage, acceptable land descriptions and nominating parcels as a block.

Stipulations may be placed on leases to protect other resources through mitigation or restrictions on surface use.  Nominated lands are not automatically placed on a sale when received, and the BLM cannot guarantee that the lands nominated will be included in any particular sale notice.

Each nomination must be submitted with a non-refundable filing fee of $100. per nomination, plus $0.10 per acre nominated.  If a parcel consists of fractional acreage, acres should be rounded up to the nearest whole acre.  Submit nominations to:  Bureau of Land Management, Idaho State Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Boise, ID  83709.

To date, two sales of geothermal parcels on public lands in Idaho have taken place.

• June 21, 2007 - five parcels, net $5.7 million <details>
• December 19, 2008 - three parcels <details>

Future sales will be scheduled as additional nominations are submitted.

The BLM-Nevada Energy webpages have additional information on leasing Federal geothermal energy resources.