Great Falls Tribune: Tester bill pushes for more geothermal exploration

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester is introducing a bill that would give loans to developers that risk exploration of unproven areas of geothermal energy and encourages co-leasing of land with oil and geothermal resources.

Tester says the Geothermal Exploration and Technology Act would increase the country’s energy security and better utilize Montana’s energy resources.

In the past, exploration for hot water or steam deep in the earth has occurred mostly in known areas of heat, fracturing and liquids, Tester’s office said.