H.R. 825: Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-02-02 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 231.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-02-02 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-4] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 231. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2017

Plain summary

Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2017 This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to extend through FY2022 the authorization for deposit and use of lease revenues under the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970. Such funds shall be available to the Department of the Interior for FY2018 and afterwards to implement both the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970. Interior shall establish priority areas on covered land (i.e., public land administered by Interior and not excluded under law from the development of geothermal, solar, or wind energy) for geothermal, solar, and wind energy projects. Variance areas shall also be considered for the development of renewable energy projects under this bill, consistent with the principles of multiple use (as defined under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976). The bill defines "variance area" as covered land that is neither an exclusion area (not suitable for development of renewable energy projects) nor a priority area and is identified by Interior as potentially available for renewable energy development and could be approved without a plan amendment, consistent with the principles of multiple use. Interior shall establish a program to improve federal permit coordination with respect to renewable energy projects carried out on covered land. The bill establishes the Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund to make funds available to federal, state, and tribal agencies for distribution in regions in which renewable energy projects are located on federal land for: (1) restoring and protecting fish and wildlife habitat and corridors for affected species and water resources in areas affected by wind, geothermal, or solar energy development; and (2) preserving and improving recreational access to federal land and water in an affected region.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House amended, Part I), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House amended, Part I)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-4] · 39 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 825, Public Land Renewable Energy Development Act of 2017 (2017-09-19)

Cosponsors on this site

Mike Thompson (D-CA), Mark E. Amodei (R-NV), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Jim Costa (D-CA), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Diana DeGette (D-CO), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Dina Titus (D-NV), David G. Valadao (R-CA)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-4] reported raising $813,542 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House amended, Part I)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr825.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr825 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115