BLM to hold July 2025 geothermal lease sale in Oregon
VALE, Ore. —The Bureau of Land Management will hold a competitive geothermal lease sale on July 10, 2025, in Malheur County. The auction will offer two parcels totaling 5,235 acres and will be held online via EnergyNet.
For each parcel leased, 50% of the bid, rental receipts, and subsequent royalties will go to the State of Oregon, 25% will go to Malheur County, and the remaining 25% will go to the U.S. Treasury.
Leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal geothermal resources. The BLM issues competitive geothermal leases for an initial 10-year period, which allows the lessee to explore and develop geothermal resources. The leases may be then extended if the lessee establishes production or provides proof of diligent exploration.
Geothermal projects support domestic energy production and American energy independence, while contributing to the nation’s economy and security. Consistent with Executive Order 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” the geothermal projects on public lands help meet the energy needs of U.S. citizens, will solidify the nation as a global energy leader long into the future, and achieve American Energy Dominance.
Geothermal is an abundant resource, especially in the West, where the BLM has authority to manage geothermal resource leasing, exploration, and development on approximately 245 million surface acres of public lands and the 700 million acres where the United States owns the subsurface mineral estate. Please visit the BLM Oregon/Washington Geothermal Energy website for updates.
Before including parcels in a lease sale, the BLM conducted an environmental review in conformance with the National Environmental Policy Act and other laws to consider potential impacts and determine appropriate stipulations to protect other resources values. The environmental review documents for this sale are available at the BLM National NEPA Register, along with the Lease Sale Notices and stipulations.
All BLM geothermal decisions must be consistent with the terms, conditions, and decisions in the applicable land use plan. Before permitting any surface-disturbing activities, the BLM will conduct an appropriate level of environmental review when processing applications for exploration or development plans, which may include site-specific conditions in addition to the stipulations already attached to the lease at the time of sale.
