HB 1170 Summary

• Expands the definition of "renewable energy producer" under Chapter 171 to include developers and adds geothermal resources to the list of qualifying energy sources.

• Amends Chapter 182 to replace references to "board of land and natural resources" with "board" throughout the mining statutes and adds a definition of "department" meaning the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

• Modifies the definition of "geothermal resources" to remove the 150-degree Fahrenheit temperature threshold and exclude only water and products not used for electrical power generation.

• Allows renewable energy producers to obtain mining leases for geothermal resources by board vote (two-thirds majority) without public auction, rather than requiring competitive bidding.

• Extends exploration permit authority to reserved lands and requires explorers to submit all exploration data and drill logs to the board upon permit termination.