42 USC § 17204 - High cost region geothermal energy grant program

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s17204"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 17204 - High cost region geothermal energy grant program"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "17204"
section_name: "High cost region geothermal energy grant program"
chapter_number: 152
chapter_name: "ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "V"
subchapter_name: "ACCELERATED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT"
part_number: "B"
part_name: "Geothermal Energy"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 110–140, title VI, § 625, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1685; Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title III, § 3002(l), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2496.)"
---


# § 17204. High cost region geothermal energy grant program

**(a)** **Definitions** In this section:

**(1)** **Eligible entity** The term “eligible entity” means—

**(A)** a utility;

**(B)** an electric cooperative;

**(C)** a State;

**(D)** a political subdivision of a State;

**(E)** an Indian tribe; or

**(F)** a Native corporation.

**(2)** **High-cost region** The term “high-cost region” means a region in which the average cost of electrical power or heat exceeds 150 percent of the national average retail cost, as determined by the Secretary.

**(b)** **Program** The Secretary shall use amounts made available to carry out this section to make grants to eligible entities for activities described in subsection (c).

**(c)** **Eligible activities** An eligible entity may use grant funds under this section, with respect to a geothermal energy project in a high-cost region, only—

**(1)** to conduct a feasibility study, including a study of exploration, geochemical testing, geomagnetic surveys, geologic information gathering, baseline environmental studies, well drilling, resource characterization, permitting, and economic analysis;

**(2)** for design and engineering costs, relating to the project; and

**(3)** to demonstrate and promote commercial application of technologies related to geothermal energy as part of the project.

**(d)** **Cost sharing** section 16352 of this title

The cost-sharing requirements of  shall apply to any project carried out under this section.

**(e)** **Authorization of appropriations** section 17202 of this title

Out of funds authorized under , there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.

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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 110–140, title VI, § 625, Dec. 19, 2007, 121 Stat. 1685; Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title III, § 3002(*l*), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2496.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2020—Subsec. (a)(2). ()(1), inserted “or heat” after “electrical power”.

Subsec. (e). ()(2), amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.”

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on the date that is 1 day after , see , set out as a note under , The Congress.